Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask His Majesty's Government how many (1) individuals, and (2) households, are eligible for the social broadband tariffs; and how many are receiving them.

The specific benefit types which provide eligibility to social broadband tariffs vary between internet service providers (ISPs).

Receipt of Universal Credit is the most common eligibility criterion across providers, therefore, at least 4.2 million households are eligible to apply for a social broadband tariff.

Since the DWP is only responsible for confirming benefit status with an ISP signed up to the automatic entitlement checker, we do not collect data on how many arrangements are now in place.

However, Ofcom reported that 136 000 households were in receipt of a social tariff as of August 2022. DWP is working with Ofcom to ensure staff across the Jobcentre Plus and DWP Service Centre network are aware of the broadband social tariffs and signpost eligible claimants to them.