Millions of families in receipt of specific benefits from the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) or Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs (HMRC) could be reducing household costs further by taking advantage of a water bill capping scheme.
The WaterSure scheme allows customers to have their water bills limited, so they pay no more than the average household bill for their company - regardless of the amount of water they use.
However, those wanting to access the scheme must also suffer certain medical troubles or illnesses, to be deemed eligible to take advantage of it - Birmingham Live reports.
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Citizens Advice said: "To apply for the WaterSure scheme, you must be on benefits and need to use a lot of water either for medical reasons or because your household has a certain number of school-age children. You also need to be on a water meter or be waiting to have one installed.
"If you get your water from Welsh Water you’re covered by WaterSure Wales, which works in a similar way to the English scheme."
To qualify for help under the WaterSure scheme, you or someone living with you needs to be entitled to receive one of the following:
- Universal Credit
- housing benefit
- Income Support
- income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
- Working Tax Credit
- Child Tax Credit (except families in receipt of the family element only)
- Pension Credit
- Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
In addition, you need to either:
- Be responsible for three or more children under the age of 19 and in full-time education living in the property, or
- Have (or someone living in the property must have) a medical condition that requires significant additional use of water. Examples of medical conditions include weeping skin diseases (such as psoriasis), Crohn’s disease, or ulcerative colitis.
You will not qualify for WaterSure if you use a garden sprinkler system or have a swimming pool, Ofwat pointed out.
If you think you are eligible for WaterSure, you will need to apply through your water company.
Some water suppliers also offer WaterSure if you're on Disability Living Allowance or Personal Independence Payments.
Northumbrian Water, covers the water supply for North East of the UK - serving nearly 3 million customers from 'bonny' Berwick to 'Boro on Teesside.
Eligible benefits for WaterSure at Northumbrian Water
Northumrbian Water offers WaterSure for the full range of possible state benefits. These are as follows:
- Pension credit
- Income Support
- Income Related Employment and Support Allowance
- Income based Job Seekers Allowance
- Working Tax Credit
- Child Tax Credit (not including family element-only claimants)
- Housing Benefit, or
- Universal Credit.
Those wishing to take part in the WaterSure scheme must also have a water meter.
Eligible conditions for WaterSure at Northumbrian Water
Among other rules for applying for WaterSure, you or someone else in your home must have a medical condition that means a lot of water has to be used - or you must have 3 or more children living at the property.
Northumbrian Water detailed these conditions as follows:
- 3 or more children living with you at the property, or
- a member of the household living with a medical condition that means they must use lots of water.
Ofwat, the Water Services Regulation Authority, says customers can also consider other tips to cut water bills such as having a meter fitted, which can reduce charges by £100 a year.
In addition, if you’ve got a septic tank instead of a connection to the sewerage system you shouldn’t be paying a penny in sewerage charges. Check your bill – it could save you around £200 a year.
