According to Citizens Advice, people on Universal Credit were more than six times as likely to have disconnected compared to people not claiming. While claimants are eligible for discounted broadband social tariffs, there are still big gaps around awareness and access with uptake only around 5 per cent.
The charity fears the problem could get worse. Where people claiming Universal Credit are still paying for broadband, they are more than four times more likely to be behind on broadband bills than those who aren’t claiming.
The latest figures from Ofcom show 95 per cent of the 4.3 million eligible households are missing out on saving £200 on broadband costs each year, amounting to around £824m of support going unclaimed.
Dame Clare Moriarty, chief executive of Citizens Advice, said: “People are being priced out of internet access at a worrying rate. Social tariffs should be the industry’s safety net, but firms’ current approach to providing and promoting...