Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps his Department has taken to increase take-up of broadband social tariffs among recipients of income-related benefits.

The Department for Work and Pensions has ensured all operational staff in Jobcentres, Universal Credit service centres, Pension Centres, and partnership managers who engage with claimants and stakeholders are able to signpost to the Ofcom webpage which promotes broadband social tariffs.

DWP have updated guidance, delivered teach-in’s to Work Coaches and published internal communications highlighting the importance of identifying claimants who are digitally excluded and signposting to the support available, including broadband social tariffs.

We have also developed an Application Programme Interface (API) which allows Internet Service Providers (ISPs) to verify for free, with the customers’ permission, if they are in receipt of an eligible benefit for the broadband social tariff.