Major mobile network slashes bills for customers on benefits – are you eligible?

MILLIONS on certain benefits including Universal Credit can get a mobile phone contract for £12 a month with EE.

The provider has launched a new social mobile tariff exclusively for customers on low incomes.

The “EE Basics”; package is SIM only, comes with 5GB data, unlimited calls and texts and the contract lasts 12 months.

Plus, you’ll get 25 megabits per second (Mbps) internet speed.

Companies often offer customers so-called social tariffs which means you pay less if you’re on certain benefits.

Millions could be eligible for social broadband deals but aren’t claiming.

Figures from Ofcom in October revealed the number of households who had moved from social broadband tariffs had risen from 55,000 to 136,000 since January.

However, it means millions are still missing out – and it could cut their bills by hundreds.

Who’s eligible for the EE tariff?

You must be receiving certain benefits if you want to purchase EE’s new social tariff.

They are:

• Universal Credit
• Pension Credit (Guarantee Credit element only)
• Income-based Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
• Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)

People on contribution-based only JSA are not eligible.

However, if you receive both income and contribution-based JSA, you will be eligible if your income-based JSA amount is highest out of the two.

Households on contribution-based only Employment and Support Allowance are also not eligible for the tariff.

But again, if you receive both income and contribution-based ESA, you will be eligible if your income-based ESA amount is highest out of the two.

Existing EE customers can move to the tariff if they’re eligible. However, if you are Flex pay customer you cannot.

Once the 12 month contract has finished, you can continue with the plan if you’re still eligible.

How can I apply?

You can apply for the tariff by calling EE on 0800 956 6000, or if you’re an existing customer you can call 150.

A member of staff will then carry out an eligibility check. You’ll also have to pass a standard credit check if you’re a new customer.

You’ll need your National Insurance number to hand when you apply.

Plus, EE will ask for your personal information, including surname and date of birth.

What are other companies offering?

Of course, it’s always worth shopping around for the best deals on social tariffs.

Just because one company is offering something, that doesn’t mean you can’t it cheaper elsewhere.

Comparison websites like Uswitch.com and Go Compare let you check prices across different providers to find the best deal.

For example, Vodafone has a social tariff for customers on low incomes.

Customers can get unlimited 5G data, calls and texts for £10 a month for up to six months if they are getting certain benefits on the VOXI For Now tariff.

So for the same amount of data, calls and texts you’re actually paying £2 less a month.

It might not seem like a lot, but that’s £24 over the course of the year – enough to stash away for a Christmas present.

Plus, you can get the social tariff if you receive Personal Independence Payments (PIP) which you can’t on EE’s new tariff.

We also checked out some standard SIM-only tariffs, that don’t require you to be receiving benefits, to see how they faired against EE’s new offer.

Lebara was offering 15g of data, unlimited calls and texts for just £6.95 a month in its Black Friday sale. Plus there’s no contract.

So you’re getting a much better offer there and for over £5 cheaper per month – that’s £60 over a year.

Meanwhile, Three Mobile was offering its own Black Friday package of of 20g data, unlimited calls and texts on a 12-month contract for £7 a month.

Again, you’re looking at a £5 saving per month by getting that contract.

Remember though, you should always check out the terms and conditions attached to a deal.

For example, Lebara’s offer came with 20.07Mbps average internet speed which is slower than what EE is offering.

Although you might be willing to sacrifice slower internet speed to pay less overall.

In other news, Martin Lewis has urged households not to get themselves into debt just to finance Christmas presents and activities this year.

Plus, we reveal how households can claim the new cost of living payments of up to £1,100.