Social Tariffs Whilst on Legacy Benefits

fryster

Hi all, we are currently in receipt of child tax credits as full time carer for a disabled child and adult. Currently on a normal broadband deal with Virgin, have just received notice of a price hike and future contract now likely to rise each year by a hefty chunk. Looking at the social tariffs available but most require receipt of universal credit or income support, we don't receive these as on the legacy benefit. Will they accept this? In all honesty I don't think the social tariffs are particularly value for money but also don't want to take out a contract which will rise in April this year and next year by quite a hefty chunk. Virgin retentions not getting close to a decent offer yet, but hoping they come through.

Neil_Jones

fryster said:

Hi all, we are currently in receipt of child tax credits as full time carer for a disabled child and adult. Currently on a normal broadband deal with Virgin, have just received notice of a price hike and future contract now likely to rise each year by a hefty chunk. Looking at the social tariffs available but most require receipt of universal credit or income support, we don't receive these as on the legacy benefit. Will they accept this? In all honesty I don't think the social tariffs are particularly value for money but also don't want to take out a contract which will rise in April this year and next year by quite a hefty chunk. Virgin retentions not getting close to a decent offer yet, but hoping they come through.

Different providers accept different criteria for those tariffs.

Child Tax credit is legacy (much like its sister, Working Tax Credit) and not available to new claimants unless they already claim WTC.  If you don't claim Working Tax Credit already you can't claim for Child Tax Credit, so the solution there is Universal Credit.

As most providers don't take WTC as a qualifying criteria, its quite unlike they'd take CTC either, especially as I've just said to get the latter requires you to be able to claim the former.

Have you checked whether you can move to UC?  That would then open up pretty much all social tariffs to you.

fryster

Neil_Jones said:

fryster said:

Hi all, we are currently in receipt of child tax credits as full time carer for a disabled child and adult. Currently on a normal broadband deal with Virgin, have just received notice of a price hike and future contract now likely to rise each year by a hefty chunk. Looking at the social tariffs available but most require receipt of universal credit or income support, we don't receive these as on the legacy benefit. Will they accept this? In all honesty I don't think the social tariffs are particularly value for money but also don't want to take out a contract which will rise in April this year and next year by quite a hefty chunk. Virgin retentions not getting close to a decent offer yet, but hoping they come through.

Different providers accept different criteria for those tariffs.

Child Tax credit is legacy (much like its sister, Working Tax Credit) and not available to new claimants unless they already claim WTC.  If you don't claim Working Tax Credit already you can't claim for Child Tax Credit, so the solution there is Universal Credit.

As most providers don't take WTC as a qualifying criteria, its quite unlike they'd take CTC either, especially as I've just said to get the latter requires you to be able to claim the former.

Have you checked whether you can move to UC?  That would then open up pretty much all social tariffs to you.

We're better off staying on child tax credit, will stick with normal tariffs, just need to get a good deal and factor in the yearly price increases.

EdwardB

fryster said:

Neil_Jones said:

fryster said:

Hi all, we are currently in receipt of child tax credits as full time carer for a disabled child and adult. Currently on a normal broadband deal with Virgin, have just received notice of a price hike and future contract now likely to rise each year by a hefty chunk. Looking at the social tariffs available but most require receipt of universal credit or income support, we don't receive these as on the legacy benefit. Will they accept this? In all honesty I don't think the social tariffs are particularly value for money but also don't want to take out a contract which will rise in April this year and next year by quite a hefty chunk. Virgin retentions not getting close to a decent offer yet, but hoping they come through.

Different providers accept different criteria for those tariffs.

Child Tax credit is legacy (much like its sister, Working Tax Credit) and not available to new claimants unless they already claim WTC.  If you don't claim Working Tax Credit already you can't claim for Child Tax Credit, so the solution there is Universal Credit.

As most providers don't take WTC as a qualifying criteria, its quite unlike they'd take CTC either, especially as I've just said to get the latter requires you to be able to claim the former.

Have you checked whether you can move to UC?  That would then open up pretty much all social tariffs to you.

We're better off staying on child tax credit, will stick with normal tariffs, just need to get a good deal and factor in the yearly price increases.

The so called Social Tariffs are a crock of potpourri, this is all going to be about timing

First determine exactly when the Virgin price hike takes effect, then give appropriate notice, give retention dept a chance to match what you can get from Social Tariff or MSE.

Play hard ball, be prepared to leave, even if you have to buy a sim router and payg unlimited data sim.

I do not have a contract with any of the providers, I use data sims or hotspots between deals.

If you look on MSE they will offer you deals with no hike this year but they are 24 month contracts and will be hiked again next year.  You could call each of the providers and ask what social tariffs they have.

BT did tell me that they will not be increasing the Social Tariff, but £20 a month for 78mb (only 29mb guaranteed) while Sky offered £19.99 for random deal on MSE last week, this week it is Shell Energy at £17.42 for 55mb

https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/broadband-and-tv/cheap-broadband/

If you are with Virgin you are over paying anyway, dump their TV box, dump their overpriced service, dump tv licence, get netflix, be prepared to go without broadband internet, there are ways to survive on mobile data but you need to find a local partner, don't use their map but call them.

https://www.caringmattersnow.co.uk/introducing-the-national-databank/

 Get a Router from Amazon that will take a SIM and produce wifi and Lan Ports, TP-Link is OK brand.

Although against some terms consider sharing with others in your building or use hotspots.

Not all social Tariffs require benefit proof, call them and give them notice, if they don't offer a substantial improvement WALK..

Virgin Media Essential broadband (no line)

New & existing customers
Broadband customer service: 4.3/10

• £12.50/month for average 15Mb speed broadband only (no line)
• £20/month for average 54Mb speed broadband only (no line)

Who can get it? To qualify, you need to be receiving universal credit and living in an area Virgin covers (55% of the country).

TalkTalk - 6 months free via JobCentre Plus for jobseekers on universal credit who don't have an internet
connection. Eligibility is determined by Jobcentre staff.


https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/compare-broadband-deals/broadband-social-tariffs/