Martin Lewis has launched a ‘bill-busting’ campaign to aid households in cutting expenses at the beginning of the new year. The financial expert advised viewers during the first Money Show Live of 2025 to scrutinise their mobile contracts to avoid overpaying post-expiry, check energy tariffs are fixed below the price cap, and to negotiate better broadband deals.
He highlighted that the secret to cheaper services involves either haggling with your supplier or using comparison sites to find optimal deals for your budget and needs. He also brought attention to a significant saving opportunity for Universal Credit claimants, revealing on ITV: “If you are on Universal Credit, or in some cases other benefits like Pension Credit, there’s a thing called ‘social tariffs’. Special, cheaper tariffs for people in those situations, up to four million people are missing out.
“They’re not the fastest speeds, but they are a much lower price of £12 to £20 a month. It is really important you check out if you can get one of those so see if your provider offers it.”
He pointed out that Ofcom lists providers offering social tariffs, like BT, Vodafone, Virgin, Now, and Sky, advising viewers to check the complete list online. Martin advised: “If your provider doesn’t offer one, switch to a provider that does,” reports the Daily Record.
He underlined how swapping to a social tariff could cut costs significantly over the next year. One viewer, Deborah, emailed her success story of how she saved her mother a whopping £903.60.
She said: “I recalled your TV programme on social tariffs and after a lot of effort, l eventually got through to someone who knew of the social tariffs at BT (Home essentials package) and got my mum on a social tariff at £15 per month. A saving of £903.60 a year.”
For those looking to make similar savings, MoneySavingExpert.com provides a guide on switching broadband plans, inclusive of the most recent offerings, which can be reviewed on their website.
Social Tariffs explained
Social tariffs, briefly explained, could yield annual savings of about £200. Directly contacting your supplier is the quickest method to establish eligibility for a social tariff – even if you’re ineligible, providers may have other options to reduce your bill.
Implemented in 2022, a system now enables broadband firms to quickly assess eligibility through a bespoke DWP IT platform – pending claimant approval. The benefits that DWP’s system can confirm include:
- Universal Credit
- Pension Credit
- Income Support
- Income-Based Jobseeker’s Allowance
- Income-Related Employment Support Allowance
Benefits for broadband
The following providers are included in Ofcom’s most recent guidance on social tariff broadband packages:
Universal Credit
- BT – UK
- EE Basic (Now offered through BT) – UK
- 4th Utility – UK
- Hyperoptic – Scotland, England and Wales
- KCOM
- NOW Broadband – UK
- Sky Broadband – UK
- Virgin Media – UK
- Vodafone – UK
Pension Credit
Attendance Allowance
- Hyperoptic – Scotland, England and Wales
- KCOM
Personal Independence Payment (PIP) / Adult Disability Payment (ADP)
- Hyperoptic – Scotland, England and Wales
- KCOM
- Vodafone – UK
Disability Living Allowance (DLA)
Income Support
Jobseeker’s allowance
Employment and support allowance
Care Leaver’s Support
- Hyperoptic – Scotland, England and Wales
- KCOM
- Housing Benefit
- Hyperoptic – Scotland, England and Wales