I’m disabled & on PIP benefits – a Martin Lewis tip helped me save over £300 in seconds
A WOMAN has revealed how a Martin Lewis tip helped her save over £300.
Claire – who is disabled and on PIP benefits – told how she switched her broadband contract to a social tariff, and saved big in the process.
Her win was revealed in this week’s Money Saving Expert newsletter.
Claire wrote: “My broadband came up for renewal and they wanted to increase my bill to over £40/mth.
“I saw MSE’s information about social tariffs – I am disabled on personal independence payment, so I looked at your list of providers and found that Vodafone do a social tariff for £12/mth.
“I would never have thought to even look at the social tariffs before MSE’s information about them!”
In total, she saved over £300 by making the switch.
People on Universal Credit are eligible for the main social tarrifs.
Most also apply to those receiving Pension Credit – while others can apply to those on jobseeker’s allowance, employment and support allowance, disability living allowance and personal independence payment.
How do you find a social tariff and who is eligible?
Applying for a social tariff changes depending on who you are signing up with.
Providers offer different packages, so it’s worth shopping around for the best deals.
You can check other prices on the market by using comparison websites such as moneysupermarket.com or Uswitch.
For example, BT offers two different packages with different speeds – one is £15 a month and another is £20 a month.
Meanwhile, NOW offers a social broadband package for £20. Plus, Vodafone’s Essentials broadband deal is £12.
Some of the benefits that qualify you for a social tariff include: Universal Credit, Employment and support allowance and Jobseeker’s Allowance.
But each provider has its own eligibility criteria, so bear that in mind when searching around for deals.
If you’re not sure whether you’re eligible, The Sun has come up with an easy tool to help you check.
You can save money on your mobile phone contract through social tariffs too.
EE offers its Basics package for mobile phone customers for £12, while VOXI has its own £10 monthly plan.
For the full list of tariffs available now and more information see our round up.
You’ll have to check each telecom provider to see how to apply – you’ll often have to do this online or over the phone.