If you or someone in your home claims Universal Credit, you can get home broadband from a major provider for a fraction of the normal price. Ofcom’s own figures suggest only 532,000 households were on a social tariff in June 2025, a small share of those eligible, so many people are paying more than they need to.
Social tariffs work like ordinary broadband. The difference is the price and the rules: no exit fees, no mid-contract price rises and little or nothing to pay to set up.
Our simple pick for most homes is BT Home Essentials. It is available almost everywhere because it uses the Openreach network, and BT, EE and Plusnet customers can move onto it. If you can get Virgin Media and only need a modest speed, its Essential Broadband is cheaper still.
Social tariffs from national providers
| Provider | Tariff | Average download speed | Monthly price | Where available |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Virgin Media | Essential Broadband | 15Mb | £12.50 | Virgin Media network areas |
| Virgin Media | Essential Broadband Plus | 54Mb | £20.00 | Virgin Media network areas |
| BT | Home Essentials No Income | 36Mb | £16.50 | UK, for Universal Credit claimants with zero income |
| BT | Home Essentials 36 | 36Mb | £22.00 | UK |
| BT | Home Essentials 67 | 67Mb | £25.00 | UK |
| Sky | Superfast 35 | 35Mb | £20.00 | UK |
| Sky | Full Fibre 75 | 75Mb | £24.00 | Full fibre areas |
| NOW Broadband | Broadband Basics | 36Mb | £20.00 | UK |
| Vodafone | Fibre 2 Essentials | 80Mb | £20.00 | UK |
Source: Ofcom’s list of social tariffs, last updated 2 October 2026. Prices are the monthly price for the tariff.
Full fibre social tariffs from regional networks
Several full fibre networks offer faster social tariffs in their own areas. Hyperoptic’s range is the standout if it reaches your building.
| Provider | Tariff | Average download speed | Monthly price | Where available |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hyperoptic | Fair Fibre Fast | 50Mb | £12.00 | Selected buildings in England, Scotland and Wales |
| Hyperoptic | Fair Fibre Superfast | 150Mb | £13.00 | Selected buildings in England, Scotland and Wales |
| Hyperoptic | Fair Fibre Ultrafast | 500Mb | £17.00 | Selected buildings in England, Scotland and Wales |
| Hyperoptic | Fair Fibre Hyperfast | 1Gb | £20.00 | Selected buildings in England, Scotland and Wales |
| Community Fibre | Essential | 35Mb | £12.50 | London |
| G.Network | Essential Fibre Broadband | 50Mb | £15.00 | London |
| YouFibre | Social Tariff | 50Mb | £16.99 | Selected areas |
| toob | essentials | 50Mb | £15.00 | Hampshire, Southampton and Surrey |
Source: Ofcom’s list of social tariffs, last updated 2 October 2026. Ofcom lists further regional tariffs on its website.
Who can get a social tariff
Every provider accepts Universal Credit. All the major providers also accept Pension Credit, Employment and Support Allowance, Jobseeker’s Allowance and Income Support. Some go further and include Personal Independence Payment, Attendance Allowance or other benefits, so check the provider’s own list.
The person who receives the benefit normally needs to be the account holder. Providers check eligibility directly with the Department for Work and Pensions in most cases, so you rarely need to send paperwork.
Moving onto a social tariff
If your current provider has a social tariff, you can usually switch to it at any time, free of charge, even in the middle of a contract. Ask for it by name.
If your provider doesn’t offer one, you can move to a provider that does. Ofcom says your current provider might let you leave without an exit fee in this situation, so ask before you pay anything. Plusnet doesn’t have its own social tariff, but its customers can move to BT Home Essentials. TalkTalk does not offer a general social tariff.
Things to check first
- The speed. Most social tariffs are 30Mb to 80Mb, enough for a small home to stream in HD and make video calls. Larger households may want a faster tariff.
- Calls. Some tariffs include a landline and calls, others are broadband only.
- The end of the deal. Some social tariffs run for 12 or 24 months. Find out what happens when the term ends.
FAQs
What is a broadband social tariff?
It is a cheaper broadband package for people who receive certain benefits. Ofcom expects social tariffs to have no exit fees, no mid-contract price rises and low set-up costs.
Do social tariffs go up every April?
They are not subject to the annual mid-contract rises applied to standard packages. Ofcom says you won’t pay more than you agreed at the start of the contract.
Can I get a social tariff if I receive Pension Credit?
Yes, with all the major providers. Pension Credit is on every national provider’s list.
Can I leave a social tariff early?
Yes. Social tariffs have no early termination charges.