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Having a broadband connection has become a necessity. But with rising costs, pensioners may be feeling the pinch. Fortunately, there are a few options that can reduce the cost of broadband for pensioners.
We’ve found ways for older people to save money on broadband, as well as some affordable deals to compare.
Our home tech expert Rachel says “If you’re just looking for a basic broadband package, Virgin Media’s Essential Broadband package costs just £12.50. If Virgin Media isn’t available in your area, Sky’s Basic package includes superfast broadband for £20 per month.”
The best broadband package for you depends on your specific needs. You’ll want to consider which broadband speed suits your internet activities. Since it’s unlikely that you’ll be working from home if you’re a pensioner, you have the luxury of choosing lower-speed broadband deals that cost less.
Here are some of the best deals for pensioners:
BT
BT Home Essentials is available for people receiving certain benefits, such as Pension Credit. This plan is for low-income households and offers fast broadband at an affordable price.
There are two deals available for pensioners:
You can cancel either plan at any time without early exit fees. If you’re looking for a call-only plan, there’s an optional home phone plan available.
NOW Broadband
NOW’s Basics deal costs just £20 per month and gives customers access to NOW’s Fab Fibre package (usually £35.50 per month), which offers an average download speed of 36Mbps. The deal includes NOW Calls at no extra cost – meaning you only pay for calls you make. To be eligible, you must be receiving at least one benefit, such as Pension Credit.
Sky
Sky Basics is essentially Sky’s Superfast 35 deal but at a more affordable £20 per month. The contract runs for 18 months, but you’re free to leave at any time without paying exit fees. Sky Basics is available to those receiving Pension Credit or another required benefit and offers an average download speed of 36Mbps. The plan comes with Sky Pay As You Talk at no extra cost.
Virgin Media
Virgin Media offers three essential broadband deals:
To qualify for any of Virgin Media’s low-income deals, you must be receiving certain benefits – one of which can be Pension Credit.
While there are no specific broadband deals for pensioners, there are low-cost options available.
Broadband social tariffs are available to eligible low-income households, including those who receive Pension Credit. Some providers offering social tariffs include Sky, Vodafone, Virgin Media and BT.
Each social tariff deal will usually specify the eligibility requirements. Typically, deals are available for households that receive certain benefits, such as Income Support, Universal Credit or Pension Credit.
In addition to cheaper broadband deals, elderly customers may also be offered other benefits. Some providers, including Sky, BT and Virgin Media, offer these additional benefits to vulnerable customers:
Before comparing broadband deals, it makes sense to know what your broadband needs are. Here are some of the things that elderly people might want from their broadband plan:
If there’s only one or two of you living in your home, you most likely won’t need the fastest broadband speed available. Your speed requirement depends on your internet activities. For browsing, using apps and sending emails, you could choose an asymmetric digital subscriber line (ADSL) package, which provides an average speed of 10 to 11Mbps.
If you’ll be using streaming platforms, such as Netflix and BBC iPlayer, a fibre-optic deal would be more suitable. Fibre broadband offers average speeds of 30Mbps or more and is widely available across the UK.
Generally, the slower your broadband speed, the less expensive your package will be. ADSL broadband deals will cost less than basic fibre-optic broadband, but the difference in cost is minimal. If you’re looking for a no-frills fibre-optic broadband package, NOW, Plusnet, Shell Energy and Community Fibre offer low-cost fibre deals.
See which broadband deals are available in your area by using our postcode checker.
You could bundle services through your broadband provider. If you watch a lot of live TV, a broadband and TV deal could save you money. Sky and BT offer comprehensive broadband and TV deals with Sky Sports, Sky Cinema and TNT Sports channels. Some TV deals also include a free Netflix plan and options to pause, rewind and record live TV.
You may also want to consider a broadband and phone deal, especially if you make and receive calls via your landline.
To find the best landline and broadband packages for pensioners, our experts suggest considering the following:
Before you sign a broadband contract, most providers will carry out a soft credit check. However, not all providers require you to pass a check to sign up for their service – Plusnet and NOW offer broadband with no credit checks.
Most social tariffs require you to receive certain benefits, one of which may be Pension Credit. To apply for a social tariff, you would usually need to do this via the provider’s website. When applying through the website, you’ll be asked questions about yourself, your address and which benefit(s) you receive. You’ll also need to give permission for the provider to obtain information about you from the Department for Work and Pensions.
Unfortunately, there are currently no free broadband deals for pensioners. However, there are ways for pensioners to get cheaper deals by signing up for a social tariff. A social tariff is available for low-income customers receiving certain benefits, such as Pension Credit. Many of the big providers, including Sky, BT, Virgin Media, NOW Broadband and Vodafone, offer social tariff deals.
