BENEFITS: Broadband on benefits:

We'd be cut off from the world without it - especially in lockdowns. Ok, if you realy want to live off grid, you can, indeed live without a lot of things (or is that survive) but then it's difficult to change or improve your life. 50 years back, we could easily have a normal life without a car, phone, fridge or washing machine - but now?

Sorry, I'm away for a cup of tea, seeing as the political events of today are so enervating. But when people pick on you even though you're agreeing with them, you start to wonder what's going on.

I do not want to be rude.....but *We used to do without...*is a rather silly statement.
Yes we used to do without central heating, clean running water, WC's, any form of proper health care, cars, buses, trains, etc.etc.

Strangely enough life progresses (sometime regresses), but changes and BB IS , these days, one of the essential services.

I am on Pension Benefit and thanks to DaisyAnne giving this information some months back I was able to change my BT contract onto the BT Essentials one, cutting my monthly bill in half with one phone call.

We used to manage without electricity and running water too.

Times change.

No! Not on benefits!
But we have become brainwashed into believing that we cannot exist without the internet. We used to manage without and if necessary we can live without it too - if we have to.
When and if it comes to harsh choices - we may need to make them and if Broadband becomes a casualty then so be it.

It is essential for people on benefits as they have to prove they are spending as much time looking for work as they would spend on being in work. Ridiculous, but there we are.

Also, broadband may not be necessary for actual survival, but it is important for people to be a part of society, as it enables communication with others amongst other things. I doubt it costs anything like the amount charged in bills, particularly when the infrastructure is already there, so to give it to those who need it won't cost the providers very much, if anything. It's the sort of thing that we could all get free if we paid a bit more tax.

Broadband is essential in the 21st century if you are looking for a job, keeping in touch with all sorts of agencies, education, children's schools etc. you are definitely at a disadvantage without.

I think you may be a little bit behind the times swampy. Are you on benefits?

I realise that I may get shot down in flames but since when did Broadband become essential?
We do not need Broadband to survive!!!
There are plenty of other things more important than paying for internet access.
If it came to a choice between a meal or the internet - I know which I would choose.