BT Basic – how can it help me?
BT Basic overview
BT Basic is a simple, low-cost telephone service that's easy to understand and helps you keep in touch, even if money is a bit tight. If you're on a low income, BT Basic lets you make and receive calls – and helps you manage how much you spend.
- BT Basic line rental £5.10 a month (£15.30 a quarter including a £4.50 call allowance)
- UK landline calls 11.3p per minute with a call set up fee of 3.3p
- Calls to 0845 and 0870 numbers free at weekends and BT Basic is exempt from any payment processing fees
- Free BT Privacy with Caller Display
If your circumstances change and you are no longer in receipt of one of these benefits, you must notify BT so we can review your entitlement to BT Basic.
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A quick guide to BT Basic
How much does BT Basic cost? £15.30 every three months
(this includes £4.50 to spend on calls)How often do I need to pay? Every three months.
Who can get BT Basic? You can usually get BT Basic if you're claiming one of these benefits:
- Income Support
- Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance
- Pensions Credit (Guaranteed Credit)
- Employment Support Allowance (Income related)
- Universal Credit (and are on zero earnings)
You must be the named account holder to apply.
What is Universal Credit? Universal Credit is a new benefit for people who are unemployed or on a low income and will replace a range of existing benefits.
From April 2013. Universal Credit will start in a test area and will begin to be introduced across the UK from October 2013.
What do you mean by Universal Credit and zero earnings? This means the benefit claimant has no earnings from employment or self-employment during the assessment period for their benefit.