If you have fallen behind on a bill, the most lasting fix is often to lower the bill itself. Millions of UK households on certain benefits can get cheaper deals called social tariffs, plus caps and grants. Most who qualify never claim, because the deals are not advertised and you usually have to ask. Here is the full picture and how to claim each one.
If you are on a benefit and your name is on the contract, your provider may move you to a social tariff, the same service for a lower price. There were just three of these in 2020 and more than 30 by the end of 2025, ranging from about £12.50 to £24 a month. You can switch to one free of charge, and you will not be charged an exit fee to leave your current contract to do it. People on a social tariff are also exempt from the annual mid-contract price rises.
| Virgin Media Essential 15Mbps broadband | ~£12.50/mo |
| Virgin Media Essential Plus 54Mbps | ~£20/mo |
| BT Home Essentials plus a no-income version for Universal Credit households with no income | ~£15/mo |
| Sky Basics, NOW, TalkTalk, Vodafone, Three, Hyperoptic and others | varies |
| VOXI For Now and similar mobile data social plans | varies |
The full, current list is on Ofcom's social tariffs page, and MoneySavingExpert keeps a comparison too. Prices change, so check before you switch.
Help with water comes in two forms.
WaterSure caps your bill at your supplier's average, however much you use, so it protects people who must use a lot of water. To qualify you need to be on a meter (or waiting for one), be on a qualifying benefit, and either have a medical need for extra water or three or more school-age children. In 2024/25 around 260,000 households saved an average of about £325, roughly a third off the bill. From 2027 the scheme is being widened to include disability benefits (Attendance Allowance, Disability Living Allowance and Personal Independence Payment), bringing in tens of thousands more households. Details from Citizens Advice.
Separately, every water company in England and Wales runs its own social tariff for lower-income customers, for example Thames Water WaterHelp and Severn Trent's Big Difference Scheme. Discounts are often around 40% and vary by company. The Consumer Council for Water lists every supplier's scheme. Scottish Water does not run a social tariff, though Council Tax water-charge reductions exist; in Northern Ireland households generally do not pay separate domestic water charges.
There is no social tariff on household gas and electricity, despite calls for one. Instead there are several support schemes worth claiming:
Citizens Advice lists the energy grants, and your own supplier can often help if you contact them and say you cannot pay.
Eligibility varies by scheme, but the benefits that usually open these doors are:
If you receive any of these it is worth checking every supplier you have.
Criminals exploit cost-of-living worry with fake "official" emails, texts and calls offering rebates or asking for bank details. A real social tariff or grant comes from your own supplier, your council or the regulator, never from an unexpected message. Never click a link or share details from contact you were not expecting. If a letter or message looks official and you are unsure, scan it and we will tell you whether it is genuine and what to do.
General information for the UK, not financial advice. Eligibility, prices and figures are set by suppliers, regulators and government and change over time, so always check the official sources linked above before acting. Sources: BBC News (June 2026), Ofcom, Consumer Council for Water, Ofgem, GOV.UK, Citizens Advice and MoneySavingExpert. scanyourletter gives information, not regulated debt advice.