Millions of struggling households could save money on their internet and phone bill under new plans being launched during the cost of living crisis.
The Department for Work and Pensions is introducing a new scheme to help telecoms giants check if a customer is eligible for cheaper deals.
Virgin Media O2 has announced its support for the scheme and ministers are hoping other providers will follow suit.
Despite over four million households being eligible for so-called “social tariffs” only around 55,000 have signed up - largely due to most people not realising they are available.
Social tariffs are special discounted deals available for certain low-income customers.
This normally includes those who claim benefits, although the exact requirements do vary between broadband and mobile providers - and some are only available in specific areas.
Under the current rules, benefit claimants have to prove their entitlement as often as every month to keep receiving discounted rates.
The Government's cost-of-living business tsar, former Just Eat boss David Buttress, said: "Times are tough and families across the country are feeling the pinch, so we're making it easier for companies to reduce phone and broadband bills for struggling families.
"Some of the biggest network operators have already committed to take advantage of this new scheme and we want to see other providers follow their lead so that everyone eligible for a social tariff can access one."
Full list of all the 'social tariffs'
As well as "social tariffs" normally being cheaper than standard deals - they start from £14.40 per month - they also normally don't come with any exit fees.
It is worth checking what is available in your area. If you're interested in one of the below tariffs, visit the main company website to check the eligibility criteria.
The speeds vary from 15Mbps to 67Mbps.
Here is a full breakdown of all the providers offering them. Prices are right at the time of publication:
- Air Broadband Support - £20 (100Mbps)
- BT Home Essentials - £15 (36Mbps)
- BT Home Essentials 2 - £20 (67Mbps)
- Country Connect Social Tariff - £15 (50Mbps)
- G.Network Essential Fibre Broadband - £15 (50Mbps)
- Hyperoptic Fair Fibre 50 - £15 (50Mbps)
- Hyperoptic Fair Fibre 150 - £25 (150Mbps)
- KCOM Full Fibre Flex - £14.99 (30Mbps)
- Now Broadband Basics - £20 (36Mbps)
- Sky Broadband Basics - £20 (36Mbps)
- TalkTalk - FREE for six months (38Mbps)
- Virgin Media Essential Broadband - £15 (15Mbps)
- 4th Utility Social Tariff - £14.40 (30Mbps)
If you're not eligible for a "social tariff" you should use a comparison site like Uswitch.com to compare the latest broadband and mobile prices.
Once you have found a cheaper deal, you can either move to your new provider or try and haggle down your existing company.
Always remember to be polite, and to explain the prices you've seen elsewhere. Ask them to match the price and say you're considering leaving.
