Millions of Universal Credit claimants are missing out on an average saving of £144 on their broadband bills.
A discounted deal is available to help low-income families, but very few households have actually taken advantage of the offer.
As the cost of living crisis intensifies and the nation braces for the full impact of all the changes coming next month, Ofcom has called on broadband providers to introduce - and more widely promote - specially discounted packages.
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The regulator said it has found the packages - sometimes known as ‘social tariffs’ - are currently available to around 4.2 million households in receipt of Universal Credit, but only 55,000 homes have taken advantage of the deals so far.
Ofcom said, as a result, millions of lower-income households were missing out on an average annual broadband saving of £144 each - according to the Daily Record.
Lindsey Fussell, networks and communications group director at Ofcom, said: “People rely on their broadband for staying in touch, working and learning from home. But for those who are really struggling with rising bills, every penny counts.
"Special discounts can make all the difference, and too many broadband firms are failing either to promote their social tariff or to offer one at all.
"We expect companies to step up support for those on low incomes, and we'll be watching their response."
According to its latest research, around 1.1 million households are struggling to afford their home broadband service, with Ofcom predicting affordability problems are likely to worsen in 2022 as the cost of living continues to rise.
It said six providers - BT, Community Fibre, G.Network, Hyperoptic, Kcom and Virgin Media O2 - offer at least one specially discounted deal priced between £10 and £20 a month for broadband speeds ranging from 10Mbit/s to 67Mbit/s.
As well as urging others to introduce their own social tariff, Ofcom has called on these firms to ensure deals are properly promoted and easy to sign up for, saying customers must not be put off applying because it appears difficult to prove they are eligible.
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