Help with household costs

Phone and broadband

Cost of living - household

You may be eligible to move onto a social tariff if you’re struggling to afford your broadband or phone services.

USwitch have produced a guide on broadband deals for low income families. The guide outlines what social tariff broadband deals are, what tariffs are available in the UK, with detail on what each deal includes and who is eligible for each. 

Below are further hints and tips from USwitch

Broadband tips for those on low income

Concerned about credit checks? There are other options.

Most broadband suppliers will carry out a credit check. If you’re concerned about your credit history being a barrier to a broadband deal, there are options for PAYG and also 'no contract' deals. Beware though that both PAYG and monthly/no contract deals often come with higher monthly prices, so ensure it’s a good deal for you first by calculating the overall cost. You can read more about providers that do not require credit checks.

Reduce your current broadband bill by reassessing your needs

Reevaluate whether you need the speed you're currently paying for. You may be overpaying for a speed that you’re not fully utilising, so speak to your provider to discuss this. Think about bundling your services. If you pay for other telecoms services, such as a mobile phone contract or a television service like Sky or BT TV, you could save money by bundling these services with one provider. Other ways to reduce your current bill can be found by following the link below

Tether your mobile

You can “tether” your computer device to your phone if you have mobile data. However, not all mobile phone contracts will allow tethering. It’s also vitally important to know how much data you have, as a few hours browsing on a tethered computer can eat up A LOT of mobile phone data. 

Your local library

Most libraries now allow free internet access on their computers for a set amount of time each day. Also, if you have your own devices such as a laptop or mobile phone, you will be able to connect to their Wi-Fi for free.

Free public Wi-Fi spots

There are many places you can go to access free Wi-Fi: local cafes and coffee shops, most chain fast food places, train stations, some city centres, etc. However, be aware of the personal data you share when connecting to an open network such as these. It would be best to avoid accessing or inputting personal details when connected to public Wi-Fi, such as banking sites.

Credit: USwitch