# Affordable Telecoms: The Rise of Social Tariffs Among UK Providers and the Push for Greater Visibility
A number of mobile phone, home phone and broadband providers in the UK have a more affordable package available to people who receive means tested benefits. These packages are referred to as ‘social tariff(s)’ and most offer the very same service on conventional tariffs but for a significant cost reduction per month.
Some providers do a great job at advertising social tariffs while others do not. The telecoms regulator Ofcom have made it clear that they remain unimpressed by providers who either do not offer these services or who aren’t advertising them widely enough. Unfortunately TalkTalk and O2 are two of the largest telecoms providers who do not have a social tariff. Some providers offer the social tariff to customers for as long as they remain eligible whereas others limit theirs to a set duration after which the special pricing will cease.
When a new order is placed for a social tariff product, the provider will use your details including your national insurance number in order to obtain confirmation from the DWP that you receive means tested benefit.
## **BT - British Telecom**
BT have three such packages available and two include line rental and broadband.
**Home Essentials 1** - Unlimited data. Speed up to 36Mbps. 700 minutes of calls to UK based landlines and mobile phones.
* **£15** per month
**Home Essentials 2** - Unlimited data. Speed up to 67Mbps. Includes unlimited free calls to UK based landlines and mobile phones.
* **£20** per month
**Home Essentials - Calls only plan** - includes line rental and unlimited free calls to UK based landlines and mobile phones.
* **£10** per month
To place an order for any Home Essentials package, you need to call `0800 800 150`.
## **Sky Broadband**
Sky offer one social tariff product.
Sky - **Superfast fibre broadband**. Speed up to 36Mbps. Sky Pay As You Go Talk including landline rental cost. Includes a Sky mobile subscription with 3GB data allowance, unlimited free texts, unlimited calls to UK mobiles and landlines and a 5G add-on. Social tariff is available for 18 months after which the customer will move to a standard plan.
* **£20** per month
To place an order for this package, you need to call Sky customer services on `03337 593 452`.
## **Virgin Media**
Virgin Media have three such packages available and two include fibre broadband.
**Essential Broadband** - Speed up to 15Mbps.
* **£12.50** per month
**Essential Broadband Plus** - Speed up to 54Mbps.
* **£20** per month
**Essential Broadband Plus with Stream** - Speed up to 54Mbps includes Virgin Media stream box.
* **£20** per month
To place an order for this package, you need to call Virgin Media via live chat at [https://rb.gy/k5gfl](https://rb.gy/k5gfl)
## **Lothian Broadband**
Lothian Broadband offer one social tariff product.
**Lothian Broadband Social Tariff** - Fibre broadband with speeds of up to 100Mbps.
* **£19.99** per month with a 24 month contract
To make an order for this package, you need to contact Lothian Broadband on `03302 369 900`.
## **Vodafone Home Broadband**
Vodafone offer one social tariff product for broadband.
**Vodafone Essentials Broadband** - Speeds of up to 38Mbps.
* **£12** per month
To make an order for this package, you need to register online at [https://rb.gy/u8y16](https://rb.gy/u8y16)
## **VOXI Mobile**
VOXI offer one social tariff product for a mobile phone service. The VOXI service uses Vodafone’s mobile telephone network.
**VOXI for now** - Unlimited data, calls and text messages. Lasts for 6 months then customer moved to a standard £10 per month plan.
* **£10** per month
To place an order for this package, you need to register online at [https://rb.gy/ua5sc](https://rb.gy/ua5sc)
## **SMARTY Mobile**
SMARTY offer one social tariff product for a mobile phone service. The SMARTY service uses Three’s mobile telephone network.
**SMARTY social tariff** - Unlimited data, calls and text messages. EU roaming and 5G at no additional cost.
* **£12** per month
To place an order for this package, you need to register online at [https://rb.gy/0883d](https://rb.gy/0883d)
## **EE Mobile**
EE offer one social tariff product for a mobile phone service.
**EE Basics** - 5GB data, unlimited calls and unlimited text messages.
* **£12** per month
To place an order for this package, you need to call EE on 150 if you are a current customer or if you are not, then call `0800 956 6000`.
## Other Providers
The above list is far from complete and only highlights a few services I’d personally recommend. I have no business or other relationship with any of the providers or companies listed above. There are a number of other suppliers offering social tariffs and you should view the full list on the Ofcom website at [https://rb.gy/f0yqg](https://rb.gy/f0yqg)