Income Support is a bit of extra money that is given to people who are on low or no income. However, it’s not for those who are signed on as unemployed. Whether you are eligible for Income Support and how much you are entitled to will depend on your circumstances.
As Universal Credit is being introduced across the nation, Income Support is being phased out. This page is mainly for those who already receive Income Support and want to know whether they are also eligible for a social broadband tariff.
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What is a Social Broadband Tariff?
A social tariff is a special price plan that is offered exclusively to those who are in receipt of certain benefits.
The point of a social broadband tariff is to get people connected to the internet. People who otherwise may not necessarily be able to afford to do so. In order to qualify for a social tariff you will need to be claiming benefits. The benefits that you claim will determine which broadband provider you are able to choose, as each provider has their own criteria for who they deem eligible for their price plans. For example, providers will only offer their social broadband tariff to those who receive Universal Credit, whereas others will accept those who claim other benefits.
Social Broadband Tariffs for people on Income Support
If you’re on Income Support then you will be eligible for a social broadband tariff from some providers. If you’re considering getting a broadband deal from a certain provider, then it’s always a good idea to check whether they offer a social tariff first. However, at the time of writing the following broadband providers offer a social tariff to people who are on Income Support:
- BT
- Community Fibre
- Country Connect
- Network
- Grayshott Gigabit
- Hyperoptic
- KCOM
BT social broadband tariff
BT is a household name in the UK, and their broadband service comes highly recommended by their existing customers. If you want a large, well-known broadband provider then you don’t have to look any further than BT. They offer a social broadband tariff for both new and existing customers.
The social broadband tariff offered by BT is called BT Home Essentials Broadband, and there are two different packages available.
- 36Mbps broadband for £15 per month, and a £9.99 payment upfront
- 67Mbps broadband for £20 per month, and a £9.99 payment upfront
Both of these plans are on a 12-month contract which is shorter than the contracts offered by a lot of providers via their normal tariffs. In order to qualify for the social broadband tariff form BT then you will need to be entitled – and claiming – one of the following benefits:
- Universal Credit
- Pension Credit
- Income Support
- Employment and Support Allowance
- Jobseeker’s Allowance
So as long as you claim one of the above benefits, including Income Support, you will be eligible for the BT Home Essentials social broadband tariff. It’s worth noting here that as part of the application process BT will carry out a credit check, and some people may have to pay a refundable security deposit. BT will also review your eligibility for their Home Essentials social broadband tariffs every 12 months.
Community Fibre social broadband tariff
Community Fibre currently have limited coverage within the UK, so you may not have heard of them before. However, if you live in London and receive Income Support then you are entitled to the social tariff from Community Fibre. They are one of the fastest internet providers in the capital, so if you’re in their catchment area it’s a good deal.
The social broadband tariff that Community Fibre offer is called Essential 10Mbps. It’s just £10 per month and is available on a 12-month contract which is considerably shorter than a lot of provider’s non-social tariffs. Community Fibre offer their social tariff to anyone who is in receipt of the following benefits:
- Universal Credit
- Housing benefit
- Income Support
- Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)
- Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
- Care Leavers Support
- Personal Independence Payment (PIP)
Providing that you receive any of the above benefit payments – including Income Support – you’ll be entitled to the social broadband tariff offered by Community Fibre. In order to claim this deal you’ll need to email evidence of your benefit entitlement in the form of your benefit documents. For more information on how to do just that, visit the Community Fibre website.
Country Connect social broadband tariff
If you live in Wales then you may well have heard of Country Connect. The aim of the Country Connect social broadband tariff is to make ultrafast broadband accessible to everyone in the community. Country Connect are well-known in Wales for their high speed internet so if you are within their area and are eligible for their social broadband tariff then it’s well worth considering.
The Country Connect social broadband tariff costs £15 per month and offers 50Mbps upload and download speeds on a 12-month contract. It also comes with a free router as well as free installation, and unlimited data usage which means that you’ll get no surprise bills at the end of the month. In order to be eligible for the Country Connect social broadband tariff then you will need to be claiming any of the following benefits:
- Employment and Support Allowance
- Jobseeker’s Allowance
- Income Support
- Pension Credit
- Universal Credit
If you receive any of the above benefits, including Income Support, then you are entitled to the social broadband tariff from Country Connect. To find out more as well as sign up to them, all you have to do is visit their website.
G.Network social broadband tariff
Although primarily serving London, G.Network is gradually expanding its services to offer ultrafast fibre broadband across the UK. In terms of speed it’s one of the fastest providers out there, so if you’re eligible for a G.Network social broadband tariff and it’s available in your area then we highly recommend it.
The G.Network social broadband tariff is called Essential Fibre Broadband. It offers a full fibre connection with a superfast download speed of 50Mbps for just £15 per month to those who are eligible. With your G.Network package you get a free router and connection to the service. The contract is 12-months, which is the shortest fixed-term contract you can get. In order to qualify for the G.Network Essential Fibre Broadband package you will need to be on any of the following benefits:
- Universal Credit
- Income Support
- Pension Credit
- Income-related job seeker’s allowance (JSA)
- Income-related employment and support allowance (ESA)
So as long as you receive one of the above benefits including Income Support then you are entitled to the Essential Fibre Broadband social tariff offered by G.Network. In order to apply you’ll need to provide proof of your benefit entitlement which can be done when you sign up to G.Network via their website.
Grayshott Gigabit social broadband tariff
Grayshott Gigabit is a small but mighty full fibre broadband provider, offering speeds of up to 1.5 Gbps. Their service is currently only available in a small pocket within the UK though – namely within East Hampshire or Surrey Hills. However if you live within that area and are in receipt of benefits then you may be entitled to sign up to the Grayshott Gigabit social broadband tariff to get your internet connectivity that bit cheaper.
Their social broadband tariff is simply known as ‘Connect’, and offers ultrafast speeds of 100Mbps for just £22 per month. They promise to keep this price the same for as long as their customers receive financial support. So if it’s financial security that you’re after with your broadband plan then you need look no further than Grayshott Gigabit. In order to benefit from this social broadband tariff you will need to be in receipt of one of the following benefits:
- Income Support
- Pension Credit
- Universal Credit with zero earnings
- Personal Independence Payment
- Attendance Allowance
- Care Home residents and lifeline customers who are referred by Social Services
- Care Leavers
- Employment and Support Allowance (EAS)]
So if you claim one of the above benefits, including Income Support then you are entitled to the Connect social broadband tariff offered by Grayshott Gigabit. For more information on how to prove your entitlement and sign up to the Connect package, all you need to do is visit their website.
Hyperoptic social broadband tariff
Hyperoptic are one of the UK’s fastest fibre broadband providers. They are more widely available than Community Fibre, and they offer unlimited downloads and uploads with all of their packages.
In terms of social tariffs, Hyperoptic offer two different packages for those who are on Universal Credit or benefits. The plans are called Fair Fibre 50 and Fair Fibre 150, offering speeds of 50Mbps and 150Mbps respectively. Fair Fibre 50 costs just £15 per month, and Fair Fibre 150 costs £25 per month. When you sign up to one of Hyperoptic’s social broadband tariffs you won’t need to sign up to a lengthy contract. And you will be eligible if you receive any of the following:
- Income Support
- Pension Credit
- Income-related Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)
- Housing Benefit
- Personal Independence Payment
- Attendance Allowance
- Universal Credit
- Care Leavers Support
- Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
If you claim any of the above benefits, which includes Income Support then you are eligible for one of the Hyperoptic social broadband tariffs. All you need to do is sign up to one of the Hyperoptic social broadband tariffs on this page. You will need to provide them with proof of the benefit(s) that you claim.
KCOM social broadband tariff
If you want award-winning, simple, superfast broadband that is also affordable, then look no further than KCOM. Based in Hull and East Yorkshire, they offer fast, unlimited broadband that is complemented by local 24/7 customer support.
KCOM’s social tariff is called Flex. It offers 30Mbps Lightstream Full Fibre broadband for just £14.99 per month, and on a 30-day rolling contract. This means that you’ll get great speeds at a great price. And without the financial commitment of a 12-month or longer contract.
To get the KCOM Full Fibre Flex package, you will need to be in receipt of one of the following benefits:
- Income Support
- Pension Credit
- Job Seekers Allowance (JSA)
- Housing Benefit
- Personal Independence Payment (PIP)
- Attendance Allowance
- Universal Credit
- Care home residents and Lifeline customers who are referred to us via Social Services
- Care Leavers
- Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
To apply for the social broadband tariff from KCOM, simply click on the package on this page. From there you will be able to contact KCOM directly. You can then provide them with proof that you are in receipt of Personal Independence Payment.
If Income Support is the only benefit that you receive, then don’t think that you can’t benefit from a social broadband tariff. As you can see there are plenty of providers out there who are willing to offer a discounted rate to people who are in receipt of Income Support. BT, Community Fibre, Country Connect, G.Network, Grayshott Gigabit, Hyperoptic and KCOM all have social tariffs.