People on certain benefits, with health conditions or on low incomes could be given help, by applying to their water supplier, slashing a huge amount of their bills.
If you’re on a low income (up to about £21,000 a year), you may be able to access a social tariff. All water companies offer them, and they can cut as much as 90% off your bill by lowering or capping what you pay.
If you have a water meter, there’s also the national WaterSure scheme.
WaterSure scheme
To qualify, you (or someone living with you) must be receiving at least one eligible benefit and have either three or more children under the age of 19 in full-time education, or have a medical condition that means you use extra water.
The eligible benefits are:
- Child Tax Credit (except families receiving the family element only)
- Housing Benefit
- Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
- Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
- Income Support
- Pension Credit
- Universal Credit
- Working Tax Credit
If successful in your application, your bills will be capped, so you won’t pay more than your supplier’s average household cost, however much you use. Apply through your water supplier.
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Social tariffs for water bills
According to the Money Saving Expert website, millions of households are eligible for social tariffs, but haven’t applied and are missing out on around £160 a year.
Here’s how to apply – eligibility rules do vary from time to time and proof will be required:
Social water tariffs eligibility
Affinity Water
You have a household income of £18,725 a year or less, excluding benefits
or you receive:
- Housing Benefit
- Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
- Income Support
- Jobseeker’s Allowance
- Pension Credit
- Universal Credit
Your annual bill could be capped at £119.50 (£79.70 if you get council tax reduction/support).
Anglian Water
If you are on a low income you could get up to 50% off your annual bill, contact them for details.
Recommended reading:
Bournemouth Water
You need to be on a meter or assessed charges, and you or someone in your home receives one of these means-tested benefits, and your ‘equivalised’ weekly income, after housing costs, must be less than £295, you can get between 15% and 85% off your annual bill
Bristol Water
You need to be on a low income and have your finances assessed. If all adults in your household receive Pension Credit, you may qualify for a discount of about 20% off your bill, or be given a lower rate based on your ability to pay
Cambridge Water
If you receive Pension Credit ‘guarantee element’ or you have a household income of £20,050 a year or less, excluding certain benefits, you could get 60% bill reduction in first year, 40% reduction in year two.
Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water
If you receive an income-related benefit and have a household income (excluding certain benefits) of less than £11,600 a year for a one-person household or £17,400 a year for a two-person household or £18,800 a year for a household of three or more, your annual bill could be capped at £290.03.
Essex and Suffolk
If you have a household income of £23,933 a year or less, and your annual water bill is more than 3% of your net household income (after housing costs, rent or mortgage payments), or someone in your household receives Pension Credit, and your annual water bill is 3% or more of your net household income (after housing costs, rent or mortgage payments), you can get up to 50% off annual bill.
Hafren Dyfrdwy
The Here2Help scheme can offer a reduction of water bills to any customer depending on the size of their household and household income, with up to 70% off your annual bill.
Northumbrian
If you have a household income of £23,933 a year or less and your annual water bill is more than 3% of your net household income (after housing costs, rent or mortgage payments), or someone in your household receives Pension Credit, and your annual water bill is 3% or more of your net household income (after housing costs, rent or mortgage payments), you could get up to 50% off annual bill
Portsmouth
If you are on certain benefits or you have an income of £21,000 a year or less, excluding certain benefits your annual bill could be capped at £91.12.
SES
If you have a household income of £18,725 a year (or £23,933 a year if you live in a London borough), or less, they could award up to 50% off your annual bill.
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Severn Trent
If you have a household income of £22,010 a year or less – those with child dependants may qualify for an additional income allowance – you may be awarded a lower rate, based on your ability to pay.
South East Water
If you have a household income of £18,725 a year or less, excluding certain benefits, your annual bill could be capped at £182.82 or £146.94, depending on where you live.
Southern Water
If you have a household income of less than £21,000 (excluding certain benefits) and you have savings of less than £16,000, or someone in your household receives Pension Credit, you could get between 45% and 90% discount on an annual bill.
South Staffs
If you receive the Pension Credit ‘guarantee element’ or you have a household income of less than £20,050 a year, excluding certain benefits, you could get 60% bill reduction in first year, and 40% reduction in subsequent years.
South West
You’ll need to be on a meter or on assessed charges and you or someone in your home receives one means-tested benefit, where your ‘equivalised’ weekly income, after housing costs are less than £295, you could get between 15% and 85% off an annual bill.
Thames Water
If your water bill is more than 5% of your net income, you may be eligible for WaterHelp (depending on how many people live at your property), offering up to 50% off an annual bill.
United Utilities
If you receive at least one income-related benefit and you are in arrears with previous years’ water charges or have a household income of less than £21,000 a year (if applying due to a recent life event), or you receive Pension Credit, your water bill will be capped at a lower amount for the year. For those receiving Pension Credit, the annual bill will be capped at £282 or £402.
Wessex Water
This is based on your ability to pay. You don’t necessarily need to receive benefits to apply for Assist, their main social tariff. It has six bands and the customer is placed on the band closest to their ability to pay, with a discount of up to 90%. They also do a discount for customers on Pension Credit or whose sole income is state pension of 20% (£68) on their water bills.
Yorkshire Water
If you’re on a low income with an annual bill of more than £364 your annual bill could be capped at £364.
