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Social Tariffs

Discounted Broadband for recipients of certain benefits.

**Package list updated 21 January 2025 unless otherwise stated**

We use broadband for everything these days, and although a 1Gbps package may be a luxury, basic broadband is not and every household needs access to it, whether it’s to look for jobs, shop online (to get the best deals you need to be able to compare prices and there are also many online exclusives!) or do homework.

In order to help those on the lowest incomes, the government has encouraged industry to provide affordable rates for such households, known as ‘Social Tariffs’. These are lower cost or subsidised rates available to recipients of certain benefits. The list of benefits covered varies by provider, however as a general rule it’s usually: –

Universal Credit
Pension Credit
Income Support
Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
Income-based Employment Support Allowance

In some cases, Personal Independence Payment (PIP) or Attendance Allowance may also make you eligible. Some providers require the ‘income-based’ part of JSA/ESA is higher as well. The bill needs to be in the name of the benefit recipient, but obviously everyone in the household can use the service. You may need to re-confirm qualification with the provider annually or more frequently.

We list social tariffs on our main broadband ISP list where the provider meets our listing criteria, however as we’re in the process of updating the list, we’ve provided a separate list here in the interim. Our list only covers “fixed line” broadband, so you may also be able to get discounted mobile services from some providers.

We know finding details of these providers’ services can be difficult on their website, as we discussed in a feature in our Broadband Report in 2024. These links go directly to the provider’s websites.

Social Tariff Packages (Fixed Line Broadband)

National Networks

Package	Monthly Cost	Download Speed
BT – Home Essentials – Unlimited Broadband (ADSL / non-fibre areas)	£15.00	16 Mbps
BT – Home Essentials – No Income (Zero Income only)	£16.00 (£15 until 1st May 2025)	36 Mbps
BT – Home Essentials – Unlimited 36 Mbps	£21.00 (£20 until 1st May 2025)	36 Mbps
BT – Home Essentials – Unlimited 67 Mbps	£24.00 (£23 until 1st May 2025)	67 Mbps
NOW Broadband – Basics	£20.00	36 Mbps
Sky Broadband – Basics (existing customers only)	£20.00	36 Mbps
Virgin Media – Essential Broadband	£12.50	15 Mbps
Virgin Media – Essential Broadband Plus	£20.00	54 Mbps
Vodafone – Fibre 2 Essentials	£20.00	73 Mbps

Other Providers (including alt-nets):

Package	Monthly Cost	Download Speed
4th Utility – Social Tariff	£13.99	30 Mbps
B4RN – Social Tariff	£15.00	1 Gbps
B4SH — Social Tariff	£20.00	1 Gbps
Community Fibre – Essential	£12.50	35 Mbps
Connect Fibre – Basic Essentials	£20.00	50 Mbps
Connect Fibre – Essentials	£20.00	150 Mbps
Country Connect – Social Tariff	£15.00	25 Mbps
County Broadband – Essential Broadband Tariff	£15.00	15 Mbps
Fibrus – Full Fibre Essential	£14.99	50 Mbps
G.Network – Essential Fibre Broadband	£15.00	50 Mbps
Grayshott Gigabit – Connect	£19.99	100 Mbps
Hey! Broadband – Everyday Fibre	£16.00	100 Mbps
Highland Broadband – Social Tariff	£19.99	100 Mbps
Hyperoptic – Fair Fibre 50	£15.00	50 Mbps
Hyperoptic – Fair Fibre 150	£20.00	150 Mbps
KCOM – Full Fibre Flex	£14.99	30 Mbps
Lightning Fibre – Social Tariff	£15.00	50 Mbps
Quickline – Social Tariff	£16.50	100 Mbps
RunFibre – Social Tariff	£20.00	100 Mbps
toob essentials	£20.00	50 Mbps
Truespeed – Basic	£20.00	30 Mbps
Wildanet – Helping Hand Social Tariff	£19.00	50 Mbps
WightFibre – Essential Broadband	£19.95	100 Mbps
YouFibre – Social Tariff	£15.00	50 Mbps

The costs of social tariffs should remain the same for the duration of the contract. Most providers seem to let you switch packages during the period too. Do check before buying.

Social Tariffs on our main package list are shown below: –

G.Fast – IMPORTANT NOTE ON SPEEDS — This postcode is likely to get a G.Fast service which is a ‘part fibre’ service capable of much faster speeds as the fibre comes closer to your home than ‘FTTC’ however it is still dependent on the line length. We expect your speeds around downstream. If a package is advertised with a faster speed below, you may not be able to receive the full speed at your location. Check with your provider before ordering. Read more about broadband technologies.

Part Fibre (FTTC) – IMPORTANT NOTE ON SPEEDS — This postcode should be able to to receive a ‘fibre-optic’ service. Some fibre services are ‘full fibre’ (FTTP) whilst others are ‘part fibre’ (FTTC) which means speeds can vary based on how long your line is. We think you’re likely to get part-fibre services downstream. The packages below may include listings with faster average speeds, however you may not get the full speeds shown on the package. Check with your provider before ordering a part-fibre (FTTC) product which advertises speed of up to 80Mbps. Read more about broadband technologies.

ADSL — This postcode should be able to receive an ADSL2 + service which is delivered over a copper telephone line from your home to the telephone exchange. The quality and length of the line will determine your maximum speed. The packages below may include listings with faster average speeds, however you may not get the full speeds shown on the package. You are likely to get speeds around downstream. Check with your provider before ordering a copper (ADSL2+) product which advertises speed of up to 24Mbps. Read more about broadband technologies.

Provider		Package	Download speed (average)	Monthly (inc. VAT)	First year cost(inc. VAT)
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