Broadband ISP Virgin Media UK (VMO2) has today become the latest national provider to adopt a new system from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), which makes it easier for those on state benefits to be approved to take their cheaper “Essential Broadband” social tariff.
A growing number of ISPs have introduced cheaper Social Tariffs over the past year – aimed at those on benefits who are most exposed to the UK’s cost-of-living crisis. As part of this, some providers have called on Openreach to launch social tariff products at wholesale to support them, but there’s so far no indication of that happening.
Mobile network operator Smarty has quietly added the ‘SMARTY Social Tariff‘ to their website, which as the name suggests is a low-cost unlimited data (mobile broadband), calls and texts (SMS) plan that is only available to those on eligible state benefits and costs just £12 per month.
The CEO of BT’s Consumer division, Marc Allera, will this week warn the Government’s Digital Infrastructure Minister, Julia Lopez, that the improved and cheaper social broadband and phone tariffs that they’re now offering to customers on benefits (Home Essentials) will eventually become “unsustainable” without support.
The cost-of-living crisis is having a horrific impact on the UK and forcing many households into poverty, including those that would have previously been considered secure. But the good news is that a growing number of home broadband ISPs and mobile operators have launched a range of cheaper “social tariffs“.