Martin Lewis has urged Britons on Universal Credit to check if they can claim discounted rates for their broadband.
Social tariffs can provide hugely discounted rates for people in certain situations, with rates as low as £12 a month.
Mr Lewis said in a special episode of the The Martin Lewis Money Show this week: “If you, or someone you know, is in receipt of benefits then special discounted home broadband packages are available.
“These packages, also known as social tariffs, are offered by broadband providers across the UK.
“Whilst our research shows that 83 percent of consumers in Northern Ireland believe access to broadband is essential to their day-to-day life, Ofcom has highlighted that just three percent of UK households receiving Universal Credit are on a social tariff.”
He said only a “fraction” of the four million people who are eligible for the discount are on the lower rates.
These are some of the current monthly broadband and phone social tariffs, as listed on the Ofcom website:
- 4th Utility Social Tariff – £13.99 – 30Mbit/s
- BT Home Essentials – £15 – Around 36 Mbit/s
- BT Home Essentials 2 – £20 – Around 67 Mbit/s
- Community Fibre Essential – £12.50 – 20 Mbit/s
- Country Connect Social Tariff – £15 – 50 Mbit/s
- EE Basics – £12 – Up to 25 Mbit/s
- G. Network Essential Fibre Broadband – £15 – 50 Mbit/s
- Grayshott Gigabit Connect – £19 – 100 Mbit/s
- Hyperoptic Fair Fibre 50 – £15 – 50 Mbit/s
- Hyperoptic Fair Fibre 150 – £20 – 150 Mbit/s
- KCOM Full Fibre Flex £14.99 – 30 Mbit/s
- Lightning Fibre Social Tariff – £15 – 50 Mbit/s
- Lothian Broadband Social Tariff – £19.99 – 100 Mbit/s
- NOW Broadband Basics – £20 – 36 Mbit/s
- Sky Broadband Basics – £20 – 36 Mbit/s
- SMARTY Social Tariff – £12 – 5G where available
- Virgin Media Essential Broadband – £12.50 – 15 Mbit/s
- Virgin Media Essential Broadband Plus – £20 – 54 Mbit/s
- Vodafone Essentials Broadband – £12 – 38 Mbit/s
- VOXI For Now – £10 – 5G where available
- Wildanet Helping Hand Social Tariff – £20 – 30 to 100 Mbit/s
- WightFibre Essential Broadband – £16.50 – 100 Mbit/s
- YouFibre Social Tariff – £15 0 50Mbit/s.
The special show had a focus on mental health and the support available for those with mental illnesses.
He said local councils are often very poor at communicating to residents about the support that is out there.
Mr Lewis said: “They are nowhere near good enough. Councils, step up your game. There’s a severe mental impairment 25 to 100 percent discount for people who have severe social impairment and are eligible for certain benefits. It’s really complicated but really big, do your reading on that.”
A severe mental impairment is a medical diagnosis, which can cover conditions such as dementia, profound learning difficulties and multiple sclerosis.
A person with an SMI who lives alone can get an 100 percent discount and pay no council tax.
A person with an SMI who lives with an adult carer can get 50 percent off while a person with an SMI with one qualifying adult can get a single person reduction, with a 25 percent discount.
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