MSE News: BT to launch £15/mth fibre broadband plan for millions on low incomes

MSE_Petar

BT is to launch a super-cheap fast fibre broadband plan for 4.6 million households claiming certain benefits at the end of June – but there's no need to wait as many can get similar prices now.

Read the full story:
'BT to launch £15/mth fibre broadband plan for millions on low incomes – but many can get similar cheap deals now'

Click reply below to discuss. If you haven’t already, join the forum to reply.

trufflehunt

I'm a pensioner. I just have the state pension, and receive housing benefit to help with the rent on my studio flat.

I'm currently with Plusnet broadband on their basic ADSL tariff, and I have used Line Rental Saver to reduce the overall annual cost.

My contract is due to end on 6th June, at which point the renewal is for 18 months, at £19.99 per month, with I think, a 3 or 4% inflation linked increase in the offing shortly after.  Also, Line Rental Saver has been discontinued. 

This new BT plan for £15 per month would be ideal for me.  I'm on a very low income. Except that reading through the conditions, there is no sign of anything that mentions housing benefit as an acceptable, or applicable, legacy benefit.

Does anyone know the full details of what the criteria are for this new BT plan ?

wild666

Would that include line rental or would that be another £20 on top making the package £35 per month?

southsidergs

wild666 said:

Would that include line rental or would that be another £20 on top making the package £35 per month?

It will include line rental, Ofcom changed the rules a few years ago that they had to include line rental in all costs

mac.d

trufflehunt said:

This new BT plan for £15 per month would be ideal for me.  I'm on a very low income. Except that reading through the conditions, there is no sign of anything that mentions housing benefit as an acceptable, or applicable, legacy benefit.

Does anyone know the full details of what the criteria are for this new BT plan ?

Do you get pension credit (the top up element to your basic state pension) as well as housing benefit? If so, you may be eligible.

BT to launch new at-cost social tariff in June
"*BT Home Essentials is only for eligible customers which includes those on Universal Credit and people receiving the Guarantee Credit element of Pension Credit, Jobseeker’s Allowance, Income Support, and Employment and Support Allowance."

trufflehunt

mac.d said:

trufflehunt said:

This new BT plan for £15 per month would be ideal for me.  I'm on a very low income. Except that reading through the conditions, there is no sign of anything that mentions housing benefit as an acceptable, or applicable, legacy benefit.

Does anyone know the full details of what the criteria are for this new BT plan ?

Do you get pension credit (the top up element to your basic state pension) as well as housing benefit? If so, you may be eligible.

BT to launch new at-cost social tariff in June
"*BT Home Essentials is only for eligible customers which includes those on Universal Credit and people receiving the Guarantee Credit element of Pension Credit, Jobseeker’s Allowance, Income Support, and Employment and Support Allowance."

I don't receive Pension Credits.   As I understand it, there are two kinds of state pension. The old version, and what is sometimes referred to as the new state pension. I receive the new state pension. They're both low. I believe that Pension Credit raises your income up to about the same as the newer state pension.  The difference is that with Pension Credit, you have to actively claim it, and go through the form filling, means testing process.

Home broadband these days is basically a utility.   An essential like electricity, gas, water.   Hence perhaps the name BT Home Essentials. To compare broadband with Electricity/Gas, with the bigger energy suppliers there is a scheme called the Warm Home Discount.  When this came into being several years ago, the eligibilty criteria looked rather similar to the ones you've given above. In the last few years the original criteria , now called the 'Core' criteria.., has been widened to include a Broader group.   The Broader criteria, in approximate terms, are directed towards  people whose income is less than £16,000 per year.  My income is about £3 thousand less than that, including housing benefit.  

Which is why I'm asking the question.  The eligibility criteria given for BT Home Essentials appear to equate to the Core group defined by bigger energy companies. Do BT also intend eligibility to extend to those on a low income, similar to the Broader group defined by the bigger energy companies ?

james_smitha

people check out three mobile on this thread or part of the forum. £20 pcm including modem unlimited, but ask about the phone part. completely open to anyone

Fromply

This is now launched, but not quite as BT stated - there is a 12 month contract period.

The article should probably be updated as it states: "Once you're on Home Essentials, you won't be tied in as there's no minimum contract term, which means you'll be able to leave penalty-free at any point."

southsidergs

Fromply said:

This is now launched, but not quite as BT stated - there is a 12 month contract period.

The article should probably be updated as it states: "Once you're on Home Essentials, you won't be tied in as there's no minimum contract term, which means you'll be able to leave penalty-free at any point."

Talk about splitting hairs, the BT page for it states this - "No early exit fees, so you’re not tied in if your circumstances change."

From what I gather though they run the eligibility checks every 12 months so that might be why it states 12 months

Fromply

Ok, I didn't appreciate that - I just saw the 12 month contract.

jessmist

Hi,
I can,t seem to find the finer details of the BT essential broadband.
I receive Esa so assume I would qualify.
Would I be able to have complete WiFi with the essential package. As I currently  have it and really need it as I struggle for WiFi signal upstairs. I also have tv with BT as well.
Also I have another year on my current BT package. So will I still be able to switch to the new deal ?
Thanks