Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps his Department is taking to assist people in receipt of benefits by expanding access to social tariffs offered by telecommunication companies.

DWP is working with DCMS to encourage Internet Service Providers (ISPs) to expand eligibility for broadband social tariffs to all claimants in receipt of Universal Credit and other means-tested benefits.

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

DWP is working with Ofcom to raise awareness of this important Help for Households initiative amongst claimants and staff in Jobcentres, Universal Credit Service Centres, and Pensions Centres.