Coronavirus: Virgin launches cheaper broadband package for Universal Credit claimants
The offer is designed to help benefit claimants keep in contact with friends and family, access support or look for jobs.
Wednesday 26 August 2020 14:38, UK
Virgin Media is launching an "essential" broadband plan aimed at those facing financial difficulty as a result of the coronavirus crisis.
The service, costing £15 a month and with no fixed contract length, will be available to people claiming Universal Credit.
Virgin's initiative was welcomed by the government's digital infrastructure minister Matt Warman.
The deal entitles customers to broadband speeds of 15mbps, with the aim of helping people stay keep in contact with friends and family, access support, or search for jobs.
Those taking up the broadband-only plan will have to provide proof that they are on Universal Credit.
The offer will be available from the autumn initially for existing Virgin customers.
A customer coming off Universal Credit can continue to use the service at the higher price of £23 a month or move to another package, Virgin said.
Jeff Dodds, chief operating officer at Virgin Media, said: "We know that these are tough times and that there are many people finding it more difficult to make ends meet and facing financial uncertainty.
"At the same time, the role of broadband in helping people to stay connected has never been clearer.
"With this all in mind, we wanted to make sure that those customers receiving benefit payments were able to access reliable, hassle-free connectivity with enough speed to carry out essential online activities."
The number of people claiming Universal Credit - a benefit for people on low incomes or out of work - has risen sharply since the advent of the pandemic.
There were 5.6 million people on the benefit at the start of July, up from three million in March.