Ofcom: 7 in 10 eligible households still don't know social tariffs exist
Take-up of discounted broadband for people on benefits remains below 1 in 10 eligible households, Ofcom's 2026 pricing report found — even as more providers than ever offer one.
Ofcom's latest Pricing Trends report puts social tariff take-up at 532,000 households out of an estimated 4–8 million eligible — still under 10%. The regulator's own figure for the reason is blunt: roughly seven in ten eligible households say they have never heard that a cheaper tariff exists for them.
The supply side has improved: broadband social tariffs have grown from three providers in 2020 to more than 30 by the end of 2025, and most major providers now offer one. The gap is now almost entirely about awareness, not availability.
Check who qualifies and how to switch on our Get help page — it takes a few minutes and does not require waiting for a current contract to end.