Can I Get A Sky Discount If I Am On Universal Credit?

As the costs of living continue to rise across the UK, benefits claimants would be interested in learning about discounts that can be used to reduce basic expenses. This is why this blog post aims to answer the question of whether you can get a Sky discount on your broadband services if you claim Universal Credit. We will discuss the eligibility criteria, and the application process as well as review other discounts that Universal Credit claimants can avail of under this scheme.

Can I Get A Sky Discount If I Am On Universal Credit?

Yes, you can get a Sky discount on your broadband package if you claim Universal Credit and can provide evidence in support of your claim.

If you are a customer of Sky Broadband and subscribed to one of their packages, you will be able to get a discount on the services you avail from them if you can prove that you are getting welfare payments for a Universal Credit or Pension Credit claim.

To avail of this discount from Sky Broadband you will need to provide them with the following information to prove your eligibility for Sky Broadband Basics:

Monthly statement for Universal Credit or Pension Credit
National Insurance number to confirm your eligibility and identity

The discount that Universal Credit and Pension Credit claimants can get on their Sky Broadband package allows them to avail of Sky Broadband Basics for £20 per month for a total duration of 18 months. This package includes the following services:

the Sky Broadband Superfast 35 service which has an average download speed of 36Mb/s
the Sky Broadband Essential Plus with average download speeds of 11Mb/s (if fibre services are not available in the area where you live)
the Sky Pay As You Talk service which requires you to only pay for the calls that you make

In addition to this, you will also be able to claim the same discount on Sky’s streaming service Now as part of their social tariff plan to provide affordable broadband and streaming services to low-income households amid the current cost of living crisis.

Affordable broadband packages are being offered to benefit claimants amid a cost-of-living crisis to ease the hardship of low-income families. Since Universal Credit covers the claims of the six legacy benefits across most of the UK now, low-income households who get financial support through this welfare benefit will now be automatically eligible for other discounts and support schemes. The social tariff under the Sky Broadband Basics package is one such discount that benefits claimants can avail of.

How Can I Apply For A Sky Discount If I Am On Universal Credit?

To avail of the Sky discount for Universal Credit and Pension Credit claimants, you can call them at 0333 759 1926 and apply for your package. However, you must be an existing Sky customer who has been using their services previously as well. In addition to this, you should also be able to provide evidence of your Universal Credit or Pension Credit claim as well as your National Insurance number.

Once your application is processed and your discount package is approved, you will receive a confirmation from Sky Broadband regarding your social tariff. You will be charged £20 per month for the entire duration of this package which is going to last 18 months.

If you continue relieving Universal Credit or Pension Credit even after the end of this 18-month term, you can also request to extend this discount package. You can expect to receive an email from Sky before the end of the term of your initial contract. At this stage, you can inform them if you will need to continue with the package or not.

Otherwise, you can call their call centre and request an extension; otherwise, you will be rolled on to a standard rate contract for £25 a month.

What Other Discounts Can I Get If I Am On Universal Credit

If you are claiming Universal Credit, you can automatically avail of the following discounts to get support for living costs:

If you are unemployed and claiming Universal Credit you can get a JobCentre Plus Travel Discount Card. This card makes you eligible for a 50% discount on rail tickets. You may also be able to use it with some bus operators.

If you are claiming Universal Credit, you may also be eligible for a Council Tax Reduction for being on a low income. In addition to this, you can also get a Council Tax Rebate of £150 to meet rising living costs.

If you have unpaid energy bills, you can qualify for grants or loans to help you pay your dues. You can seek guidance from your local council office on how to apply for a grant or a loan.

If you have school-going children, you can apply for free school transport, free meals and a discount of up to £150 for school uniforms.

To learn more about the discounts you can claim as a Universal Credit recipient, you can access your sign-in to your Universal Credit account or call the Universal Credit helpline at 0800 328 5644, between 8 am to 6 pm from Monday to Friday.

How Else Can I Claim Support If I Am On Universal Credit?

If you are claiming Universal Credit, you may be able to claim support through other government support schemes as well.

For instance, you can further get help through the Cost of Living Payment. This is a lump sum payment of £650 that the government provided you with in two instalments.

If a Universal Credit claimant is challenged with a disability or a mental health condition that prevents them from performing basic tasks, they may be able to claim non-means tested benefits and consequently, a Disability Cost of Living Payment of £150.

If a Universal Credit claimant has to manage the expense of housing or child care costs, they can claim additional payments on top of the standard allowance that t children, get

Individuals who are on a low income and have been claiming benefits for at least 6 months can also apply for a Budgeting Loan. This is a form of financial support that can cover various expenses including housing costs and living expenses; as well as repayment of loans.

Conclusion:

The above discussion has clearly outlined how Universal Credit claimants can avail of the social tariff offered by Sky Broadband to help families on a low-income avail affordable broadband services. However, applicants need to be mindful that they will only be eligible for these services if they are existing Sky customers.