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UK ISP BT (EE) appears to be set to make an important change to their line-up of low-cost home broadband social tariffs – available to those on state benefits (Home Essentials). The headline change is the provider’s move to scrap their special 36Mbps (average speed) £15 per month “fibre” plan for those with “no income” on 1st May 2025. But other plans remain.
The Home Essentials plans reflect “fibre” (FTTC/P) and call bundles that are usually only available to those receiving Universal Credit (and certain legacy benefits). The plans included unlimited data, the ability to cancel anytime without penalty and speeds of 36Mbps (dropping back to 16Mbps in ADSL-only areas) or 67Mbps for just £15-£20 or £23 per month respectively. A Call Only (no broadband) plan also existed for £10 per month.
Crucially, the 36Mbps package was normally priced at £20 per month, but a special “Home Essentials No Income” option also existed (see old T&Cs) that reduced the price to just £15 per month and added unlimited anytime UK calls. This was available to those who receive Universal Credit, Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA) or Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) and “not receive any income from any paid employment and not have anyone else in their household receiving any income from any paid employment.”
However, BT recently released new T&Cs for their Home Essentials plans (credits to Thinkbroadband for spotting), which will apply to “customers joining from 2nd May 2025, and to Home Essentials customers that joined before 2nd May 2025 (except customers that are in-contract for their previous Home Essentials plan).”
The changes reflect a small +£1 price increase for two of their plans and the removal of their “No Income” option. The only £15 option left is the one intended for those in ADSL-only areas (i.e. people with no FTTC/P “fibre” services). But the original packages are currently still available until May 2025, so now might be a good time to lock in your chosen package for the next 12-month period.
Revised BT Home Essentials Plans
Home Essentials Unlimited Broadband*
Average downloads of 16Mbps
Unlimited anytime calls to UK mobiles and 01,02, 03, 0845 and 0870 numbers excluding Channel Islands
£15 per month* This plan will “only be available where fibre broadband is unavailable“.
Home Essentials Fibre Essential plan
Average downloads of 36Mbps
£21 per monthHome Essentials Fibre 2 plan
Average downloads of 67Mbps
£24 per monthHome Essentials Call Only plan
Unlimited anytime calls to UK mobiles and 01,02, 03, 0845 and 0870 numbers excluding Channel Islands
£10 per monthNOTE: Customers who take BT’s broadband-only Home Essentials plans can optionally still add Pay As You Go (PAYG) calling from an extra £2 per month or £10 if you want unlimited anytime UK calls.
In practice, this means that those on the No Income plan in a “fibre” area will eventually have to shift to BT’s £21 package, which is quite a steep price increase (or hunt out another ISP). The provider had previously also made a bit of a song and dance about how their social tariffs would not be increasing in price when they confirmed their latest round of annual hikes in January 2025 (here), but clearly their earlier statement wasn’t entirely accurate.
Finally, a quick reminder. We know social tariffs can be a divisive topic for some, but that is not an excuse to abuse the comment system in order to post offensive remarks toward those who take state benefits. Such posts are against our rules and will be removed.