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Cheaper broadband, phone and water bills
If you get Universal Credit, Pension Credit or certain other benefits, you can often pay much less for broadband, phone and water. Few people who qualify use them.
Broadband and phone social tariffs
Most big providers offer a cheaper 'social' or 'essential' broadband package if someone in your home gets Universal Credit, Pension Credit, or some other benefits such as income-based JSA or ESA, PIP or Attendance Allowance (it varies by provider). Prices on Ofcom's list currently range from about £10 to £24 a month. Speeds are usually fine for streaming and video calls.
- You can switch to your current provider's social tariff without paying an exit fee.
- BT and KCOM also offer cheaper landline-only tariffs.
- See every provider and price on Ofcom's social tariffs page.
Water bills
- England and Wales: every water company has a social tariff that cuts bills for low-income households. WaterSure caps metered bills if you're on benefits and have three or more children under 19, or someone has a medical condition that needs a lot of water. Ask your water company, or see CCW, the water consumer body.
- Scotland: water and sewerage charges come with Council Tax, and Council Tax Reduction cuts them too.
- Northern Ireland: there are no domestic water charges.
Energy
See the Warm Home Discount (£150 off) and Cold Weather Payments. If you're struggling with energy debt, ask your supplier about its hardship fund.
TV licence
If you're 75 or over and you or your partner get Pension Credit, you can get a free TV licence. Blind or severely sight impaired people get 50% off. TV Licensing
Sources
Every figure on this page is copied from these official pages, for April 2026 to March 2027 (checked 3 November 2026):
See what you could get
Answer a few plain questions and get a list of the benefits and help you're likely to get, with amounts and links to apply.
Check what I can getThis is a guide, not advice. The office that runs each benefit decides who gets it. Rules can change.