BT Home Essentials is a low-cost broadband service for people receiving certain government benefits. You can choose between 36Mbps and 67Mbps fibre broadband, with a cheaper option for households that meet BT’s No Income criteria.
Unlike standard BT broadband contracts, Home Essentials gives you a 12-month price guarantee, free setup and the freedom to cancel without early exit fees. You can also add a home phone at a discounted rate.
Key facts
| Detail | BT Home Essentials |
|---|---|
| Average download speed | 36Mbps or 67Mbps |
| Broadband network | Openreach |
| Broadband usage | Unlimited |
| Contract | 12 months |
| Early cancellation fees | None |
| Setup cost | Free |
| Annual price rises | No annual increase to the Home Essentials plan during its 12-month term |
| Router | BT Smart Hub |
| Home phone | Optional Digital Voice |
| BT TV | Available at standard prices |
| Availability | Subject to postcode and benefit eligibility |
BT Home Essentials plans and prices
BT offers two main fibre broadband plans, along with a lower-cost option for households with no income. There are also broadband and phone services for customers who cannot receive fibre.
| Plan | Average speed | Monthly price |
|---|---|---|
| Home Essentials No Income | 36Mbps | £16.50 |
| Home Essentials Fibre Essential | 36Mbps | £22 |
| Home Essentials Fibre 2 | 67Mbps | £25 |
| Home Essentials Unlimited Broadband (where fibre is unavailable) | 16Mbps | £15 |
| Home Essentials Call Only | No broadband | £10 |
The No Income and 16Mbps broadband plans include unlimited home phone calls. Additional eligibility conditions apply to the No Income plan.
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Who can get BT Home Essentials?
You can apply for Home Essentials if you receive one of these benefits:
- Universal Credit
- Pension Credit (Guarantee Credit)
- Income Support
- Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
- Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
BT checks your eligibility using your personal details and National Insurance number. Both new and existing customers can apply.
If you already have BT, EE or Plusnet broadband, you can switch to Home Essentials without a switching charge if you qualify.
Contract and price guarantee
Home Essentials has a 12-month term, but you can cancel or change your plan at any time without an early cancellation fee. There are no annual broadband price rises during the term.
BT checks your eligibility again every 12 months. If you still qualify, your plan can renew at the latest Home Essentials price. If you no longer qualify, BT will move you to a standard broadband plan unless you choose to cancel.
Router
BT supplies a Smart Hub with Home Essentials broadband. New customers may receive the Wi-Fi 6 Smart Hub 3, while existing BT customers may continue using their current router.
The hub provides wireless internet for phones, laptops, televisions and other devices. Wi-Fi coverage depends on your home’s layout, router placement and distance from connected devices.
Digital Voice
You can add BT Digital Voice to make home phone calls over your broadband connection. The two broadband-only Home Essentials plans offer discounted calling options.
| Call plan | Monthly cost |
|---|---|
| Pay As You Go | £2 extra |
| Unlimited Minutes | £10 extra |
Pay As You Go charges separately for calls you make. Unlimited Minutes includes calls to UK landlines and mobiles at any time, subject to BT’s fair usage terms.
BT TV
BT Home Essentials customers can add BT TV and Sport packages, but these cost the same as standard BT TV subscriptions.
The 36Mbps plan has enough bandwidth for one 4K stream under suitable conditions, although other internet activity may affect performance. The 67Mbps plan is a better choice if more than one person watches TV or streams videos at the same time.
Some premium 4K sports services require faster broadband, so check the minimum speed before adding a TV package.
Alternatives to consider
- Sky Broadband Basics offers a reduced-price broadband service for customers receiving qualifying benefits. It is worth comparing if Sky broadband is available at your address.
- Virgin Media Essential Broadband has low-cost broadband plans for qualifying households in Virgin Media coverage areas.
- Community Fibre Essential is another affordable option for eligible customers in covered parts of London.
- If you no longer qualify for a social tariff, BT Fibre 1, Fibre 2 and Full Fibre plans offer higher speeds, although standard broadband charges apply.
BT Home Essentials FAQs
Can I get BT Home Essentials with contribution-based benefits?
Contribution-based Jobseeker’s Allowance or Employment and Support Allowance alone does not qualify. You must receive the income-based or income-related benefit, or another qualifying benefit such as Universal Credit.
Can I apply if my partner receives the qualifying benefit?
Yes, but the person receiving the qualifying benefit must be the BT account holder. You cannot use your partner’s benefits to qualify for an account held in your name.
Does BT carry out a credit check for Home Essentials?
BT carries out a credit check for new customers. If you have a low credit score, you may need to pay a security deposit. Existing BT customers switching to Home Essentials do not need another credit check.
Can I pay my Home Essentials bill without Direct Debit?
Yes. BT accepts debit cards, credit cards, bank transfers and payments at PayPoint locations. You can also pay online or by phone.
Does BT Home Essentials include free call barring?
Yes. Call Barring is included at no extra cost. You can block outgoing international and premium-rate calls to avoid unexpected charges. These settings can be managed through your My BT account.
Can I switch from EE or Plusnet to BT Home Essentials?
Yes. Existing EE and Plusnet broadband customers receiving qualifying benefits can move to BT Home Essentials without a switching charge. You must pass BT’s eligibility check before switching.