Warning to millions on Universal Credit missing out on cheaper broadband deals – it could save you £200 a year

MILLIONS on Universal Credit are missing out on cheaper broadband deals worth £200 a year.

Social tariffs are available to households on certain benefits and usually less expensive than standard packages.

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Social tariffs are available to households on certain benefits[/caption]

But plenty of households aren’t claiming the cheaper internet deals when they could be.

Recent research from comparison site Uswitch found roughly 10million homes are unaware of social tariffs – and they could save them up to £234 a year.

You could save even more too. The Sun previously spoke to one woman who cut costs by £300 a year.

Another saved £594 over 12 months by signing up to one of the tariffs.

In 2022, The Sun launched a tool with cost of living champions Nous to help highlight how much customers could save.

Of course, how much less you could pay depends on your current deal and the social tariff you opt for.

How to find a social tariff and who is eligible

How you can apply for a social tariff varies depending on who you sign up with.

Meanwhile, providers offer packages with different speeds, prices and not all are available across the UK.

The regulator, Ofcom, has a list on its website of all the social tariffs currently on offer.

It also worth comparing deals via comparison sites such as MoneySupermarket and GoCompare.

You will need to be on benefits to qualify for a social tariff, although each provider is free to set its own eligibility criteria.

Some benefits that qualify you for a social tariff include: Universal Credit, ESA and Jobseeker’s Allowance.

It’s not just broadband providers that offer social tariffs – you can get them for your mobile phone as well.

Again, you can check out a list of providers offering mobile phone tariffs via Ofcom’s website.

Other discounts you can get on Universal Credit

It’s not just cheaper broadband and mobile phone deals available to those on Universal Credit.

Claiming the benefit opens up a number of other freebies and discounts. Here’s a few…

Pregnancy grant – £500

The Sure Start Maternity grant is a one-off payment worth £500 to help with the cost of having a child.

You’ll qualify if you’re already claiming benefits and expecting your first child, or if you have children already and are expecting twins or triplets.

New parents must claim the grant within 11 weeks of the baby’s due date or within six months after the baby is born.

To claim, you’ll need to print out and fill in the Sure Start Maternity Grant (SF100) claim form.

A health professional such as a doctor or midwife must also sign it before you post it – you can send it for free to: Freepost DWP SSMG.

Help to Save – £1,200

Help to Save is a scheme available to those on Universal Credit offering a 50% bonus on any savings you make.

You can add up to £50 into a Help to Save account every month for up to four years.

So, if you added the maximum amount each month for 48 months, you would end up with a £1,200 bonus.

But you can still get some of the bonus even by saving a small amount – check out how it works.

Healthy start – £442

New or expectant parents can get up to £442 worth of free food a year through the Healthy Start scheme.

Anyone more than 10 weeks pregnant or with a child under four years old and on benefits can apply online or via email.

If eligible, you are issued with a card which you can use in a number of supermarkets and retailers.

But you can only use the card to buy certain products such as cow’s milk, fresh, frozen and tinned fruit and vegetables and tinned pulses.

The full list of benefits qualifying you for the scheme is:

• Income Support
• Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
• Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
• Child Tax Credit with a family income of £16,190 or less per year
• Pension Credit
• Universal Credit with no earned income or total earned income of £408 or less per month for the family

You can also apply for the scheme if you are under 18 and not on any benefits.

You can find out more about the scheme in our guide.