Best Broadband and Landline Deals for Pensioners: A Complete Guide
On this page
Choosing the Right Package: Types of packages for the elderly and guidance on selecting a package
Discounts and Deals for Pensioners: Best deals, social tariffs, discounts, and bundling options.
Digital Voice and Landline Changes: Shift to Digital Voice, impact on pensioners, and preparation.
Maximising Value and Online Safety: Tips for getting the most value and staying safe online.
There’s no doubt that we live in an online age. From ordering medicine to managing money, almost all of our day-to-day needs can be met with the click of a mouse and a few taps of the keyboard.
Getting online isn’t just for younger generations - it’s also a handy tool for the young at heart!
With a reliable broadband connection at home, it becomes much easier to manage essential chores and stay connected, particularly for those who live alone or find themselves dealing with mobility issues. Here are just some of the things you can do quickly and easily from home, provided you have access to the Internet:
1. Book medical appointments and order prescriptions and medication
2. Stay connected with friends and family
3. Order groceries for convenient home delivery
4. Access local authority services and report problems
5. Book transportation such as taxis and transfers for appointments and social events
6. Stay up to date with local news
7. Stream fitness videos and classes to stay active and healthy without a costly gym membership
8. Download eBooks, listen to music and watch TV shows
9. Join an online support group for companionship
10. Pursue a hobby, for example by taking a virtual cooking class or researching local history
Choosing the Right Package: Types of packages for the elderly and guidance on selecting a package
There are hundreds of broadband packages to choose from. Some packages might be advertised as being available for a limited time only. Others might say they’re created especially for older people. Some packages will only be available in certain locations.
Being bombarded with these splashy marketing messages and long lists of special features can make it hard to know where to start.
An easy way to get started is to use our broadband deals checker to see the deals available right now in your area. All you need to do is type in your postcode then select your address from the list. We’ll show you a shortlist of all the broadband deals available in your location, all on one page.
If you don’t feel confident using the online deals checker, don’t worry. You can still access great deals for cost-effective broadband. If you don’t have a friend or family member who can help, you can also contact us directly. Just give us a call on 0800 8030079 and our team will be happy to talk you through the options available in your area.
Once you have a list of deals you could access, you’ll need to narrow it down to your preferred package.
How to select a suitable broadband package:
- Step 1: Look at the speed on offer: Broadband speed is measured in megabytes. You’ll see the average connection speed listed on each package. This tells you how fast you can expect pages to load and content to download. If there’s just one or two of you at home, you won’t need a lightning fast connection. For shopping and general online browsing, 61Mb or thereabouts would be perfectly fine. There’s no need to pay for an ultrafast 362Mb or 1.1Gb package.
- Step 2: Consider the contract length: Contract length will vary. Usually, you’ll see options for 18 months or 24 months. The contract length will impact on the overall price you pay. If you’re on a strict monthly budget, a 24-month contract will sometimes mean you pay less per month.
- Step 3: Check if there are any setup fees: Some packages come with £0 set up fees, while others may have a set-up cost. Usually, you’ll need to pay a fee if a line needs to be installed to your property. You’ll need to factor in this cost.
- Step 4: Review the added extras: Some packages will also include additional services such phone calls or TV packages. It’s worth looking at what’s included to see if you could save money by combining your new broadband with other utilities. If you only want a broadband connection, choosing a package without the additional extras will usually be cheaper. You also won’t be paying for services you won’t use.
Best Providers and Installation: Top providers, deal comparison, eligibility, and installation process
Not all broadband providers offer the same services and deals. Customer service quality will also vary. The installation process may be different from provider to provider as well. Our broadband providers page offers a good introduction to what each provider is currently offering customers.
Deals are based on eligibility criteria. To get the best prices, you may need to meet certain conditions. Most deals will require you to be a new customer, for example. Some will require you to sign up online to access the deal, so you may need to ask a friend or family member to help if you don’t have internet access already.
Other deals will include perks. Virgin Media offers a bill credit towards the cost of your bill for example. With this deal, you’ll get:
M125 Fibre Broadband
- Speed: 132 Mbps Download, 20 Mbps Upload
- Price: £26.50 per month
- Contract: 18 months
- Reward: £85 bill credit
Sky offers a gift card for your choice of high street retailer as an incentive to sign up. This deal includes:
Superfast Broadband
- Speed: 61 Mbps Download, 16 Mbps Upload
- Price: £27 per month
- Contract: 24 months
- Reward: £30 voucher
To make sure you get the best deal, it’s a good idea to make a shortlist and then compare your top two or three options. Consider what perks are on offer as well as the considerations mentioned earlier (speed, cost, contract length and any extra fees you’ll need to pay). You can find all current deals in your area with our helpful deal finder.
The installation process will vary from provider to provider and deal to deal. It will be affected by whether you already have an existing line to your house. If an engineer needs to come out, that could delay the installation process as you’ll need to wait for an open slot.
Some providers may be able to get you up and running without visiting your home. This should be made clear to you as part of the client onboarding process once you’ve selected your preferred deal.
Things to remember:
- Step 1: Check which deals are available in your area using our deals checker.
- Step 2: Once you have a list of deals available to you, research those providers. You can read online reviews to get an idea of how other customers have found their customer services, service reliability and so on. TrustPilot is a good place to start. Simply type in the name of the provider, for example BT or Virgin Media and you’ll see recent reviews from current customers.
- Step 3: Check what’s included in each deal. Don’t be swayed by gift cards or cash back if the total cost of the package is more than you budgeted for. Stick to what you can afford.
- Remember: You’ll usually need to be a new customer to qualify for a deal. The installation process will differ from provider to provider. An engineer won’t always need to visit your home to get your new broadband package up and running.
Discounts and Deals for Pensioners: Best deals, social tariffs, discounts, and bundling options.
As we mentioned earlier, some packages will bundle broadband access with other services, such as phone calls or satellite TV. On top of that, some providers may also offer discounts and deals for pensioners. That could make your monthly payments lower. If you’re not sure, ask!
Social tariffs
If you receive certain types of benefit, such as Pension Credit or Universal Credit, you could also be eligible for a social tariff. Social tariff packages are cheaper than regular packages, and usually cost between £10 and £23 per month.
Social tariffs often come with low, or no set-up fees and the price won’t change during the contracted period. It should also be free to leave your contract at any time. Most providers offer social tariffs, including BT, Sky, EE and Vodafone.
Most providers make social tariffs available online. If you can’t access the Internet, you can also call your chosen provider and ask them about their social tariff packages.
Examples
Virgin Media offers an ‘Essential Broadband’ package for low income families. It comes with a 15 Mbps speed for just £12.50 per month and no set-up fees. There’s a faster ‘Broadband Plus’ option for just £20 per month, again with no set-ups fees. Both are available with a 30-day rolling contract. You can check eligibility here.
Sky’s social tariff is £20 a month, for a 36 Mbps speed. This is based on a 24-month contract. You can check if you are eligible for this package here.
For faster speeds still, Vodafone’s Fibre 2 Essential package is £20 per month for a 12-month contract. Check eligibility here.
BT also has a social tariff option. Their BT Home Essentials option, with a 67 Mbps speed is £20. You can find out if you’re eligible, here.
Digital Voice and Landline Changes: Shift to Digital Voice, impact on pensioners, and preparation.
The UK’s telephone system is getting an upgrade. Landlines are being upgraded from analogue systems to digital. The current system will be phased out by 2027. Instead of using the current copper telephone lines which date back to the Victorian era, phone calls will take place over a broadband internet connection.
Your landline provider may already have sent you a letter explaining when they will make the switch. If you’re a BT customer, the changes are already taking place in some regions. Be assured that you don’t have to swap to digital voice calls right now if you don’t have a broadband connection. However, with this change coming, now is a good time to begin preparing. The most important step you can take is to get a broadband service for your home. Your phone line provider can then manage the transition and you won’t lose the ability to make or receive phone calls.
If you already have broadband, contact your current provider to ask about their plans and timeframes for making the transition to digital voice.
What you need to know:
- The UK’s Victorian era telephone system is being upgraded from analogue to digital.
- The old copper lines will be phased out. Instead, calls will be made over digital networks.
- The deadline for the switch is 2027.
- Your normal landline connection will continue to work until 2027.
- Your landline provider will let you know when your service will be changed.
- You’ll need to have broadband access to make and receive digital voice calls.
- Your first step to prepare for this switch is to choose a broadband package. Your landline provider can then handle the transition as per its own timetable.
Maximising Value and Online Safety: Tips for getting the most value and staying safe online.
The best way to ensure you’re getting the best value broadband package is to carefully check the small print. Pay attention to any set-up costs, the monthly fee and the duration of the contract.
Once you’ve chosen your preferred package and have broadband access, it’s important to observe a few online safety tips:
- Always have anti-virus software installed on your device.
- Keep your browser and other applications up to date, so you have the latest protection from online threats.
- Don’t click on links on messages or emails from people you don’t know.
- Never share personal details such as passwords or bank account information via email or online.
- Choose unique passwords for your online accounts to help keep them secure.
- Be wary of posts on social media that ask for information such as the name of the street you lived on as a child or your first pet’s name. These are often scams which help fraudsters to guess your security answers.
Conclusion
Choosing a broadband package as a pensioner can feel daunting. There’s a lot to consider and a lot of information to take in. To avoid feeling overwhelmed:
- Begin by finding out which deals are available in your area. Either, by using our deal finder or by calling us on 0800 803 0079.
- Review all of the deals available to create a short list which fit your needs. If you already have a landline and only want broadband for example, you could rule any combined packages off your list and focus on broadband only offers.
- Check what’s included with each deal you’re interested in, so you aren’t paying for extras which you don’t need. If you’re a smaller household, you don’t need to pay for the fastest connection speed. Choosing a slower speed could save you money while still ensuring reliable internet access.
- Remember, if you receive Pension Credit or Universal Credit, you could be eligible for a social tariff which will reduce the cost of your monthly payment. Ask your chosen provider for details of their social tariffs.