WITH the cost of living crisis showing little sign of easing up and many households now facing higher mortgage payments, we are all looking for ways to reduce our outgoings.
The good news is, you may be able to cut your broadband bill in half if you’re on Universal Credit – all you need to do is call up.
There are now a host of special discounted social tariffs available to help those on certain benefits.
Yet, millions who are eligible are missing out, and not getting savings worth hundreds of pounds a year.
One savvy customer managed to chop £19 a month off her Sky broadband bill because she’s on Universal Credit – saving her a huge £228 a year.
Single mum, Chantelle Doyle, who is in her mid-40s, heard from a family member that she might be able to make savings just by calling up her provider.
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Previously she was forking out £39 a month, but this got reduced to £20.
The mother of two from Ashtead, Surrey, is a fashion creative who also volunteers for SmallStepsProject.org.
The charity supports children and families who live on rubbish dumps and landfill sites around the world.
She’s a ‘celebrity shoe volunteer,’ helping to get big names, such as Lewis Hamilton and Oprah donating their footwear to auctions.
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She told The Sun: “After hearing about discounted tariffs, I decided to call up Sky.
"I’d been with them for about ten years.
"For a long time, I’d been paying £39 for a Sky Q contract for my broadband and TV, but with just a simple phone call, I was moved onto a social tariff costing £20.”
All Chantelle had to do was explain that she’d heard about discount deals for those on Universal Credit.
“I was put straight through to the right department, and the whole thing was really straightforward,” said the mum of two.
“Things happened quickly and my payments went down from the next bill.
"The new offering was a little pared back – and without the extras I’d had previously – but it was a big help financially.”
With two daughters aged 10 and 13 who are constantly on their iPads, a fast and reliable broadband service is essential for Chantelle.
“The girls love streaming and downloading music and video,” she said.
“There’s often three of us on our devices at the same time. But I’m happy to say the new service delivered on everything we needed – even though I was paying a lot less.”
Chantelle is now keen to spread the message and help other people save.
“Before hearing about these discounted tariffs, I had no idea they even existed,” she said.
“I’d urge anyone on benefits such as Universal Credit to make the call.
"If you end up shaving money off your bill, it’s definitely worth it.”
Sky’s offering, with an average download speed of 36Mbps, is called ‘Broadband Basics’ and is only for existing customers.
Contracts last for 18 months.
Chantelle added: “Right now, so many people are struggling to make ends meet. The situation has got really dire. There are so many demands on family budgets, we’re all looking for ways to save.”
A host of providers currently offer discounted "social tariffs" for those on Universal Credit and similar benefits.
For example, BT offers "Home Essentials" with two options on download speed. For 15 per month you’ll get 36 Mbps, or, for £20 a month, you’ll get 67 Mbps.
Elsewhere, Vodafone offers "Essentials Broadband," with a speed of 38Mbps, for £12 per month.
Other providers with "social tariffs" include Virgin Media, NowBroadband and Hyperoptic.
To find out what deals may be available to you, give your broadband provider a call.
Be aware that firms don’t always shout about these offerings, so you need to be proactive.
Like Chantelle, you might need to be on Universal Credit to qualify. Eligibility criteria can vary.
You may be required to provide your National Insurance number and a ‘proof of benefits’ letter – so have these at the ready.
When you call up, simply ask your provider if they offer one of these cheaper tariffs, and if you qualify.
And to find out if you qualify for various benefits, you can make use of Entitledto’s free calculator.
Or you can also check with the Turn2Us benefits calculator.
Don’t be afraid to seek help
If you think you’re going to have trouble paying your monthly broadband bill, you should contact your provider at the earliest opportunity, as there may be a scheme in place to help customers in your situation.
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Also remember there are some great charities offering help and support to those in financial difficulty.
These include National Debtline, StepChange and Citizens Advice.
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