Is it true that if you are on benefits that you can have a cheaper contract I dont have a smart tv

[paulasky]

As a sky  customer for past 8 years on a old age pension and govt benefits I find Skys recent price increases really unfair as there is so little on my contract I wish to watch.. I was told recently that if I am on benefits Sky has a lower priced contract they should have signed me up for.. I live alone and wonder why they did not sign me up for this social contract instead of the dearer standard one I have had to pay?

[PandJ2020]

Details here: https://www.sky.com/help/articles/sky-social-tariff

[SKY1992bf]

@paulasky Yes but only on broadband and you must be an existing sky broadband customer to start with this link explains what you need and what you need to do

https://www.sky.com/help/articles/sky-social-tariff#M1014

In additional you can also contact Sky to see if you can get discounts on other services but in return you will need to commit to a new minimum term, any offers you find acceptable must be taken on the spot has they may not be available next time you call

[Daniel0210]

@paulasky 
The Sky account holder needs to be claiming Universal Credit, Pension Credit, Income Support, Income based Jobseekers Allowance or Income based Employment Support Allowance. These are the only qualifying benefits so Sky would require the relevant NI number so they can check. It is only available to customers who already have Sky Broadband. The social tariff is for 35Mbs broadband and the Sky Talk Pay As You Go tariff (ie: all calls are chargeable). It does not offer a discounted Sky Talk plan. The social tariff will be an 18 month deal and will then revert to the normal price. If you are eligible you’ll need to call Sky to join.

[TimmyBGood]

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@paulasky wrote:

I find Skys recent price increases really unfair as there is so little on my contract I wish to watch..

'Social tariffs' are for broadband/phone (which are deemed to be 'essential' services) rather than subscription television.  If pay-for channels are not providing value to you, switching to Freesat/Freeview would seem appropriate.

I was told recently that if I am on benefits Sky has a lower priced contract they should have signed me up for.  I live alone and wonder why they did not sign me up for this social contract instead of the dearer standard one I have had to pay

An ISP has no idea of your benefit status unless you tell them (and give them permission to query the relevant Government databases to verify this).  As noted above, the discounted offering is for broadband, not television.

https://www.ofcom.org.uk/phones-telecoms-and-internet/advice-for-consumers/costs-and-billing/social-... 

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