Cheap BT Home Essentials Social Broadband Tariff Goes Live
UK ISP BT has now made their new low cost “Home Essentials” social tariff available to those on Universal Credit and other means-tested benefits, which gives eligible customers an unlimited 36Mbps (10Mbps up) “fibre broadband” (FTTC / FTTP) service – plus 700 minutes of included phone calls – for £15 a month.
The new unlimited data tariff, which was soft-launched at the start of May (here), is intended to replace BT’s existing BT Basic tariff (for new and upgrading customers) and could potentially be taken by as many as 4.6 million UK households (maximum feasible availability). In addition, those who want the faster 67Mbps tier (20Mbps upload) and unlimited calls can opt for that instead, but this does push the monthly price up to £20.
The tariff comes bundled with a wireless broadband router and makes mention of a 12-month contract term (the original PR suggested there wouldn’t be a contract term), although customers can choose to be billed either monthly or quarterly. On top of that there’s also a £9.99 postage and packaging fee for the bundled router. Finally, it’s still possible to take a call-only plan for just £10 per month if you don’t want broadband.
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However, BT says they will check the customer’s eligibility every 12-months and if somebody is no longer eligible then they will work with them to find a more suitable plan (BT says they have access to check which customers are receiving specific benefits).
Who can get BT Home Essentials?
New or existing BT customers can apply. You’ll also need to be receiving one of these benefits to qualify:
➤ Universal Credit (all claimants)
➤ Pension Credit (Guarantee Credit)
➤ Employment and Support Allowance
➤ Jobseeker’s Allowance
➤ Income Suppor
The new tariff comes after last year’s move by Ofcom, which saw the regulator call on providers to pro-actively promote relevant social tariffs (where available) to customers who might be eligible and “strongly encouraged” others (i.e. those that don’t yet have social tariffs) to “consider introducing them” (here). Since then, a number of MPs have also called on Ofcom to introduce a regulated social tariff (here).
One other reason for BT’s decision to replace their social tariff could be that some of their rivals have recently launched similar plans. For example, Virgin Media has introduced a £15 per month “Essential Broadband” plan (here), which offers download speeds of 15Mbps (2Mbps upload), as well as unlimited data usage and a 30-day rolling contract.
Since then, Hyperoptic has joined them to launch a tariff called the “Fair Fibre Plan” (here), which costs from £15 per month for 50Mbps (faster options also exist at extra cost). Meanwhile, KCOM has their “Flex” service in East Yorkshire and North Lincolnshire, but that isn’t quite as attractive as the others.
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The web page for BT’s new Home Essentials tariff appears to have gone online yesterday (credits to Richie for spotting first).
Mark is a professional technology writer, IT consultant and computer engineer from Dorset (England), he also founded ISPreview in 1999 and enjoys analysing the latest telecoms and broadband developments. Find me on X (Twitter), Mastodon, Facebook, BlueSky, Threads.net and Linkedin.
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Hum, so why am I paying 18 quid for 2mbs up and 21 mbs down?
Because you’re not on Universal Credit?
Because you’re lucky enough to earn enough money to not qualify. It’s madness to be jealous of people worse off than you.
Is it because you have a poor service due to dslam misplacement, and while you do not mind subsidising poorer people, you do think you should be getting the same service other subscribers are getting for the same price?
BT should offer G.fast 330/50 for £20 a month
No they shouldn’t really.
It’s a 12 month contract but it does state “No early exit fees, so you’re not tied in if your circumstances change.” 12 months contract will be because they only do an eligibility check for the package once a year and it states if you come off a qualifying benefit (leading to you no longer being eligible for the package) during the contract period, you get to stay on the package at the agreed price until the 12 months is up.
Houseshare will be a biggest problem if same property address as BT could reject Home Essentials due to credit check if the houseshare isn’t your property or renter to landlord!
New line could be charged don’t think it would be FREE
Hi does anyone know how to actually apply for the bt home essentials package please?? Looked everywhere can’t find nothing.
The order summary page for the 80/20 product looks like it’s for the 40/10 product – so I haven’t placed an order.
After selecting the £20/month option at the beginning you are given estimated speed stats and told it’ll be £20/month plus £19.99 setup. Then you continue through the process until you hit the pre-checkout order summary. On that summary the estimated speed stats appear to be for 40/10(not 80/20), the setup fee is £9.99(again that is the price for the 40/10 product) – however the monthly charge is correct at £20.
So the 80/20 order summary seems to mix speeds and setup charges from the 40/10 product and you can’t be certain you’re ordering the 80/20 product.
The £15 40/10 service appears to also include unlimited calls rather than the 700 minutes mensioned in this article. Excellent!