A LOCAL MSP has urged people on benefits to check if they qualify for a social tariff for broadband or a mobile phone package.

Social tariffs are affordable phone and broadband packages designed to support low-income groups.

These tariffs are available for people on benefits including Universal Credit, Income Support, Jobseeker’s Allowance, Employment and Support Allowance and Pension Credit.

Telecoms regulator Ofcom estimates only 8.3 per cent of eligible UK people use these tariffs.

If that figure was mirrored in Scotland, it would mean that nearly 400,000 people on Universal Credit in Scotland could be missing out on cheaper deals.

Natalie Done, SNP MSP for Renfrewshire North and West, said: "Online access – whether for shopping, communicating with friends and family or dealing with benefit offices and government at all levels – is becoming an essential utility and social tariffs could be a way of ensuring those with fixed or low incomes don’t miss out on the benefits of being online.

“With the ongoing cost-of-living crisis, it’s important to be aware of any deals which could help those struggling to get by. Moving to a social tariff still means you can get a decent broadband connection and, in most cases, switching to such a tariff is free, with no set up fee.

“Social tariffs put money back into people’s pockets and could potentially save up to £200 per year. This is support that goes unclaimed simply because not enough people know about them.”

Information on social tariffs can be found on Ofgem’s website: https://bit.ly/SocialTariffs2024.