A phone call to your broadband provider could bring your monthly bill down and reduce your outgoings. The charity Independent Age is calling on internet providers to do a better job of promoting their broadband social tariffs so that more older people struggling to manage their finances are aware they could be paying as little as £12.50 per month for their broadband services on Virgin Media Essentials.
However, it’s not the only option as there are currently over 30 broadband social tariffs to choose from across the UK. The easiest way to find out if you qualify for a cheaper broadband package is to contact your provider directly. If you are currently claiming benefits such as Universal Credit, Pension Credit, Personal Independence Payment (PIP), Disability Living Allowance (DLA) or Income Support, check the guide at the bottom of this article to see which providers include those benefits as part of their eligibility criteria.
Recent research from the dedicated older people's charity suggests that nearly half of State Pensioners (48%) on a low income have struggled to keep up with their broadband bill in the last six months. It said the findings raise fears that the cost of living crisis has deepened the ‘digital divide’ and warns that older people in financial hardship may become even more isolated. The charity said that not being able to go online could mean that older people on low incomes are unable to access information about financial entitlements or services, mi.
