ISP KC Change Eligibility Criteria for its Cheap Line Rental Service in Hull

Broadband and phone provider KC, which operates almost exclusively in the Hull area of East Yorkshire (England), has adjusted the eligibility criteria for its Social Access Package that offers cheaper phone line rental (£5.62 a month) to the unemployed (low income groups) and those with other special needs.

At present the ISPs Social Access Tariff is available to any consumers in the Hull area that meet a certain criteria. Specifically care home residents, lifeline customers referred to KC by Social Services and anybody in receipt of Income Support, Pension Credit, Job Seekers Allowance, Housing Benefit or Disability Living Allowance can take the package.

The move is practically identical to a position taken by BT last year (here) and follows the UK government’s recent decision to change the benefits system by adopting a simplified Universal Credit solution from April 2013. As a result KC, much like BT, must adjust its criteria. Crucially the ISP said that it had “no plans to proactively reassess existing customers on the scheme.”

KC’s Statement on Social Access

In summary, our KC Social Access Package will be available to consumers in the Hull area meeting any of the following criteria going forward:

* Care home residents
* Lifeline customers referred to us by Social Services
* In receipt of Pension Credit
* In receipt of Universal Credit, with zero earnings
* In receipt of Income Support, Job Seekers Allowance, Housing Benefit or Disability Living Allowance (until withdrawn by the DWP).

In line with KCOM’s aim of increasing broadband penetration in Hull, we intend to continue allowing customers on the Social Access Package to also take our entry level broadband products, Karoo Lite or Weekday Broadband. KCOM believes these broadband packages are chiefly suited to customers who have not previously had access to home broadband, particularly job seekers with limited income but who may want to use the internet to search for employment.

The communications regulator, Ofcom, gave its blessing to the proposal last week and said it was “satisfied that KCom’s proposal adequately implements the Universal Service Condition“. Customers of the service will also continue to receive a small allocation of 20 included local calls.

KC’s Social Access Package
http://www.kc.co.uk/home/phone/social-access-package/