For many households, the offer arrives at a welcome time as energy prices soar and the £20 boost to universal credit comes to an end on 6 October.

Here’s everything you need to know about TalkTalk’s initiative.

What is TalkTalk’s free broadband for job seekers’ offer?

Six months of Fibre 35 broadband for freeAverage speeds of 38MbpsTypically costs £23/month (£138 in savings)Calls not included

The Fibre 35 plan typically costs £23 per month over a 24-month contract and offers an average download speed of 38Mbps, which should be suitable for use across 1-5 devices. The new initiative saves customers £138 over the six-month period.

There aren’t any caps on usage, and after six months customers will have the option to cancel or sign up for a new contract. The plan doesn’t include calls, however, or other services such as TV bundles.

How to get free broadband from TalkTalk as a UK job seeker

To claim TalkTalk’s broadband offer, job seekers will have to go via the DWP, which will assess and refer individuals to the program based on their requirements.

Those who are eligible will get the TalkTalk voucher code, which can be redeemed by contacting TalkTalk via a dedicated phone line.

What’s the difference between Talk Talk’s job seekers’ offer vs. BT Home Essentials for Universal Credit claimants?

TalkTalk is the latest provider to offer its services at a reduced rate. In July, BT launched an initiative offering high-speed broadband with unlimited calls at nearly half its standard rate.

There are a few key differences between the two offers:

TalkTalk’s service is free for six months, BT’s plan costs £15 per month on a 12-month contract (with £9. 99 P&P), reduced from £32. 99 per monthTalkTalk speeds for the plan are an average of 38Mbps, BT’s speeds are 67MbpsCalls not included on TalkTalk, unlimited calls on BT Home Essentials

It’s also worth noting that TalkTalk’s initiative is aimed at job seekers, whereas BT’s offer – though not free – is aimed at job seekers and anyone on universal credit or other government support programs. Customers can also sign up directly from BT instead of having to go via the DWP.

If it’s within budget, you may prefer to opt for BT’s plan if you have a larger household with greater broadband speed requirements. See our full guide to BT’s cheap broadband rates for those on Universal Credit.

Vodafone’s Voxi also has a promotion for job seekers that offers unlimited 5G data for £10 per month, reduced from £35. The offer ends on 7 October. See our full coverage of Voxi’s offer.

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Somrata researches and writes about the best tech deals to help readers make smart, informed buying decisions. She’s an expert on accessories and also reviews laptops, phones, audio and other devices.