TalkTalk and Government Offer Job Seekers 6 Months of Free Broadband

Britons searching for work can apply for six months of free broadband through a new scheme from discount ISP TalkTalk and the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).

The voucher scheme was trialled in Greater Manchester and Cheshire during the second lockdown last year to support job seekers at home, especially after some Jobcentre support services were moved online during the pandemic.

As of Monday, it’s available across the UK. It’s designed to combat digital exclusion and remove barriers to employment.

Employment minister Mims Davies said: “We want to support jobseekers in any way we can on their journey to securing employment, which includes levelling up opportunities by making sure they are digitally connected and can access the full range of support offered by our Plan for Jobs and our JobHelp website.”

Job seekers will receive a no-contract voucher for six months of TalkTalk’s Fibre 35 broadband, usually priced at £23 per month. All Jobcentre Plus work coaches will be trained to identify eligible participants and offer them vouchers in the form of referral codes from TalkTalk. Recipients can then call TalkTalk directly to sign up for the service.

Users will receive a router for WiFi access but the service doesn’t come with voice calls and can’t be topped up with extras such as Pay TV. 

Users aren’t locked into a contract—TalkTalk usually requires an 18-month commitment. The service will also continue for the entire six months, even if the job seeker finds employment during that period.

At the end of the six-month period, users can opt to cancel the service without penalty, provided they return all equipment through the prepaid returns service, or roll onto a contracted tariff.

Lauren Smith

Lauren Smith has worked as a journalist and copywriter for most of the last decade, covering technology, energy, and consumer rights, in the US and UK.

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