Use Ofcom's current social-tariff list and check directly with providers. Eligibility and coverage differ. Compare the available service with what your household needs, and confirm the effect on any existing contract before changing it.
Start with our London fibre broadband overview to see how availability, networks and speeds fit together.
Understand the basic idea
Ofcom describes social tariffs as lower-cost broadband or phone packages for people receiving qualifying benefits. Providers can use names such as essential or basic. The service is delivered through the provider's normal network rather than a separate type of internet.
Universal Credit and Pension Credit are among the benefits relevant to eligibility, but the full rules vary. The person qualifying generally needs to be the account holder. Ask the provider to confirm the current conditions for the specific tariff.
Use a current list instead of an old price
Prices, eligible benefits and package names can change. This guide deliberately links to the current source rather than reproducing a price table that could become stale.
Start with the official list, shortlist services that may cover your address and then verify both eligibility and availability with the provider. A regional coverage description does not mean every London home can order.
Compare the service you would receive
Write down download, upload, any usage allowance, setup cost and equipment arrangements. Decide whether the package supports your household's important activities. A smaller tier may be adequate for ordinary use, but assess simultaneous calls, streams and large uploads separately.
Do not let a package name make the choice for you. Compare the actual service and the total cost, then ask how the provider checks continued eligibility and communicates any future change.
- Which benefit or eligibility evidence is required?
- Must the qualifying person be the main account holder?
- Can this exact address order the tariff?
- What speed and equipment are included?
- What happens if eligibility changes?
Check the route from your existing service
Ofcom says social tariffs do not carry mid-contract price rises or early exit fees. It also says a customer can move to their own provider's social tariff without a switching charge. Moving from a different provider can still require checking the existing contract.
Ask the current provider for a written explanation of any charge and whether support is available. Avoid assuming that eligibility for the new tariff automatically removes every obligation under an unrelated old package.
Prepare for the conversation
Have the address, current account reference and the name of the relevant benefit ready. Provide sensitive evidence only through the provider's official process. This site does not collect benefit records or make eligibility decisions.
If the online form is unclear, ask for the provider's alternative application route. Keep a note of the tariff discussed, the date and any next step. That helps if the application needs a follow-up.
Look beyond the monthly headline
A manageable bill is useful only if the service also meets the household's needs. Check whether a phone line, calls or other services are included or separate, and whether losing an existing bundle changes another bill.
If you are struggling to pay now, contact the provider promptly rather than waiting for a missed payment. Ask what immediate support is available while a tariff application or switch is being considered.
Your questions, answered.
Are social tariffs available to every household?
No. Providers apply eligibility rules and their service must be available at your address.
Does this website decide whether I qualify?
No. The provider verifies eligibility through its own process. Use the source links for current information and apply directly.
Sources & further reading
Official information behind this guide. Links checked 29 October 2026; individual datasets retain their stated reference dates.