Millions of People Are Missing Out on Cheaper Bills – Are You One of Them?
If you are currently receiving benefits, there is a very good chance you are paying more than you need to for some of your most essential household bills. Social tariffs – specially reduced rates offered by water, broadband, and phone providers – exist specifically to help people on lower incomes manage the rising cost of living. Yet millions of eligible households have never claimed them. This guide breaks down exactly what social tariffs are, who qualifies, and how you can start saving money as soon as possible.
What Are Social Tariffs?
Social tariffs are discounted rates on essential services such as water, broadband, and mobile phone contracts that providers offer to customers who are receiving certain means-tested benefits. They are not widely advertised, which is one of the main reasons so many eligible people never take advantage of them. In many cases, the savings can be substantial – reducing monthly bills by tens or even hundreds of pounds over the course of a year.
The term "social tariff" is most commonly used in the broadband and telecoms industries, while water companies tend to refer to equivalent schemes as "WaterSure," "Assist," or similar names depending on the provider. Whatever the label, the principle is the same: if you are struggling financially and receiving qualifying benefits, you should be paying less than the standard rate.
Who Is Eligible for Social Tariffs?
Eligibility criteria vary between providers and between the type of service you are looking at, but in most cases, you will qualify if you or someone in your household receives one or more of the following benefits:
- Universal Credit
- Pension Credit
- Income Support
- Jobseeker's Allowance (income-based)
- Employment and Support Allowance (income-related)
- Child Tax Credit or Working Tax Credit (in some cases)
- Housing Benefit
Some providers also extend their social tariffs to households where a resident has a disability or long-term health condition, or where the household has a high water requirement due to a medical need. It is always worth checking directly with your provider, even if you are not sure whether you meet the standard criteria.
Broadband Social Tariffs: Getting Cheaper Internet Access
Access to the internet is no longer a luxury – it is an essential part of everyday life, from searching for jobs and accessing government services to keeping in touch with family and managing finances online. Recognising this, many of the UK's largest broadband providers now offer significantly reduced deals for people on qualifying benefits.
Providers including BT, Sky, Virgin Media, Vodafone, and several others have introduced social tariff broadband packages. Prices under these schemes can be as low as £10 to £15 per month in some cases, compared to standard deals that can easily cost £30 to £50 or more. Speeds offered vary, but most social tariff packages provide a connection fast enough for everyday household use, including streaming, video calls, and home working.
One important thing to note is that you usually need to contact your provider directly and ask about their social tariff. Providers are not legally required to automatically apply these discounts, so if you do not ask, you will not receive them. Checking the Ofcom website is a good starting point, as it maintains a regularly updated comparison of available broadband social tariffs across providers.
Phone Bill Discounts: Cutting the Cost of Staying Connected
Mobile phone companies also offer discounted plans for people on benefits, though again these are not always prominently advertised. Some networks offer SIM-only social tariff plans at heavily reduced monthly costs. These plans typically include a reasonable allowance of minutes, texts, and data – enough for most people's day-to-day needs.
As with broadband, you will generally need to apply or enquire directly with your mobile provider to access these rates. If your current provider does not offer a social tariff, it may be worth considering switching to one that does, as the savings can be considerable over the length of a contract.
Water Bill Discounts: Help for High-Use and Low-Income Households
Water is one bill where many households are unaware that help is available. Water companies in England and Wales are required to offer assistance schemes, and most have programs in place to reduce bills for low-income customers or those with specific medical needs that result in higher water usage.
The WaterSure scheme, for instance, caps the bills of eligible customers who use a high volume of water due to a medical condition or because they have a large family. Many water companies also offer their own bespoke assistance tariffs that go beyond the minimum required by regulation. Contacting your water provider and asking about their social or assistance tariff is the first step to finding out what you could save.
How to Apply for Social Tariffs
The application process is generally straightforward. Here is how to get started:
- Contact your current provider: Call or visit their website and ask specifically about social tariffs or assistance schemes for customers on benefits.
- Have your benefit information ready: You will usually need to provide proof of the benefit you receive, such as a Universal Credit award letter or a Pension Credit notice.
- Compare available options: Use Ofcom's broadband social tariff comparison tool to see which providers offer the best deals if you are considering switching.
- Review your eligibility regularly: Your circumstances may change, and new schemes are introduced periodically, so it is worth checking again if your situation changes.
Don't Leave Money on the Table
With household bills continuing to put pressure on budgets across the country, social tariffs represent one of the most straightforward and underused ways for people on benefits to reduce their outgoings. The savings are real, the application process is simple, and the only thing standing between you and a lower bill is making the call or sending the email to ask. If you think you might qualify, take action today – there is nothing to lose and potentially hundreds of pounds a year to gain.
Sharing this information with friends, family, or neighbours who may be on benefits could also make a real difference to someone else's financial wellbeing. The more people who know about social tariffs, the fewer households will continue to overpay for services they rely on every single day.