Martin Lewis ‘actually essential’ replace over Universal Credit and Pension Credit

People on a range of DWP benefits may be able to access the scheme

View Image

Martin Lewis has pointed Universal Credit and Pension Credit claimants to hugely discounted schemes. People on DWP benefits can often get access to many means of support on top of their regular payments.

Mr Lewis spoke on his BBC podcast about several topics, including switching bank accounts and how to balance your work and rest time. The consumer expert also spoke at length about a new charter that had been set up, on the back of his campaigning.

The advocate has long railed against surprise mid-term price increases to broadband and mobile packages. Major telecoms providers have signed up to a new charter, including BT, Virgin Media, O2, Vodafone, Three, Sky and TalkTalk, pledging not to do this.

This was after some suppliers would advise a customer in advance of a price hike and how much it would be, but when they actually lifted their rate, it was more than they previously stated. The new Government-backed charter means that providers who have signed up to it will not impose these surprise extra amounts when increasing their charges, apart from in “unforeseeable and externally driven events”.

Providers signed up to the charter will also make their pricing more clear and will better signpost people to discounted rate that they may be able to get. On this note, Mr Lewis said: “Providers have promised to ensure information on social tariffs is easy to find and signpost.

“That’s really important, there are a good four or five million people eligible for broadband social prices where you get a much cheaper price. This is people on lower incomes, often on Universal Credit or Pension Credit, but the criteria vary by company.”

Discounted rates

It’s definitely worth looking at these discounted mobile and broadband tariffs listed on the Ofcom website. Rates are as low as £10 a month with VOXI For Now, which provides unlimited data, calls and texts.

You can also get social tariffs with major providers such as Virgin Media, BT and O2. Guidance on the Ofcom website about who qualifies states: “If you or someone in your household claims Universal Credit, you could switch to any of the tariffs available.

“All major providers also include people on Pension Credit, Employment and Support Allowance, Jobseeker’s Allowance and Income Support. Some providers might include additional benefits, like Personal Independence Payment and Attendance Allowance. The person receiving the benefit needs to be the main person on the contract.

Yet Mr Lewis warned that many people don’t know about these schemes. He said: “We don’t feel that they have been signposted well enough. I think some of this is the firms themselves, some of this is comparison sites who don’t list them.”

You can read the Telecoms Consumer Charter on the Government website.