Water companies’ social tariffs

Some water companies want you to ask for free debt advice as part of their application process, as this shows them that you really need help and you’re making an effort to get on top of your finances.

As part of our free debt advice service, we’ll make sure we have a full picture of your situation, check you’re claiming all the benefits you’re entitled to and talk you through appropriate ways to get your finances back on track.

You can apply for low-income fixed tariff (LIFT) if:

• you’re named on the account
• your household income is less than £18,725 a year (before benefits)
• you receive any of the following benefits –
  • universal credit
  • pension credit
  • housing benefit
  • job seeker’s allowance
  • income support
  • income-related employment and support allowance

You’ll need to provide evidence of any benefits and your income.

If you’re eligible, your tariff will be capped at £119.50 a year.

If you receive a discount on your council tax and qualify for LIFT, your annual bill will be capped at £79.70.

Find out more about LIFT.

* Includes Hartlepool Water

You’ll need to have a water meter to be eligible for these tariffs.

But don’t worry, if you don’t already have one, Anglian Water will fit one for free. And if they’re unable to fit one, they’ll talk you through other options.

To apply for a LITE tariff, you’ll need to get in touch with Anglian Water. They’ll review your circumstances to see if you qualify for a discount of up to 50%.

Find out more about the LITE tariffs.

* Includes Essex & Suffolk Water

You can apply for Northumbrian Water’s low-income discount of up to 50% if:

• your income is under £23,933; or
• you get pension credit

And

Your annual water and sewerage bill is more than 3% of your household income after any housing costs.

Find out more about the low-income discount scheme.

Helping Hand is available to those who have a low income or receive certain benefits.

To qualify, your household income must be below £21,000 (the government’s low-income threshold), excluding these benefits:

• child tax credit
• pension credit
• personal independence payment
• mortgage interest relief
• attendance allowance
• housing/council tax benefit
• disability living allowance

If your application is approved, your water bill will be capped at the company’s minimum charge for the year.

Find out more about Helping Hand.

You might qualify for a 50% discount on your water bill if your yearly household income is:

• under £18,725 before any deductions (outside London)
• under £23,933 before any deductions (London)

Disability benefits don’t count towards your income.

Find out more about Water Support.

You could save up to 70% on your average Severn Trent bill if your household income is below £22,010.

You might qualify for an extra income allowance if you have children living at home.

If your application is approved, you'll be given a new payment plan tailored to you, which will also help with any outstanding debt on your account.

The scheme lasts for 12 months so you’ll need to reapply at the end of each year.

Find out more about the Big Difference scheme.

If your water supply and wastewater services are supplied by Southern, you could get a discount between 45-90% – depending on your household income.

You’ll qualify if:

• everyone in your home receives pension credit
• you have a low income

If you qualify for the Essentials tariff but your water is supplied by someone else, you’ll get a 45% on your wastewater service from Southern.

Discounts start from the date you apply for the tariff and are reviewed after 12 months.

Pension credit

You’ll get a 45% discount on your water rates.

Low income

You need to meet all the following criteria to qualify:

• Your household income is less than £22,020.
• You have savings of less than £16,000.

Any payments from disability living allowance, attendance allowance or personal independence payment don’t count towards the income threshold.

Find out more about the Essentials tariff.

Your drinking water bill will be capped and you’ll also get a discount on your waste water bill.

You’ll qualify if your yearly household income is less than £18,725, excluding any disability and housing payments.

If you get pension credit, you might also be eligible for South East Water’s social tariff.

You might be able to get a waste water discount if your provider is Southern Water and your household income is between £18,725 and £22,020.

Find out more about South East Water’s social tariff.

* Includes Cambridge Water

Assure is a two-year discount scheme for those on a low income or receiving certain benefits.

If you’re eligible, you’ll get a 60% discount in the first year and 40% in the second.

Low income

If your household income is under £20,050 a year, you might be eligible to apply.

The income threshold rises by £1,500 for every child who lives with you.

For example, if you have two children, your income threshold will be £3,000 higher at £23,050.

Assure doesn’t count income from the following benefits towards the threshold:

• attendance allowance
• personal independence payment
• carer's allowance
• the disabled child or severely disabled child element of child tax credit
• disability living allowance
• housing benefit or housing element of universal credit
• council tax benefit
• homes for Ukraine scheme

Pension credit

You might qualify for the discount if you receive the guarantee element of pension credit.

Universal credit

If your household is temporarily not getting any income, you might qualify for Assure Assist. This is a 100% discount for eight weeks. After eight weeks, you will switch to the Assure tariff. In this scenario, the benefits listed above, along with child benefit, don’t count as income.

Find out more about Assure.

* Includes Bournemouth Water and Bristol Water

The WaterCare tariff offers a discount between 15-85% to those on a low income who either have:

• a water meter
• assessed charges

Find out more about WaterCare.

Thames Water might offer you a 50% discount if your bill is more than 5% of your net income. Whether you qualify also depends on the number of people who live with you.

Any discounts are applied from the date you apply.

Find out more about WaterHelp.

Back on Track caps your water bill if:

• you receive benefits
• you have a low income because your circumstances changed

Benefits

You’ll need to receive one of the following benefits:

• pension credit
• housing benefit
• council tax reduction/support
• working or child tax credits
• universal credit
• income support
• employment and support allowance
• job seeker’s allowance

You’ll also need to show one of these situations apply to you:

• fallen behind on previous years’ water bills (arrears)
• lower income from a change in circumstances e.g. redundancy

Low income

Your household income needs to be under £21,000 because of a change in circumstances e.g. redundancy or reduced working hours.

Find out more about Back on Track.

If you’re struggling, you can apply for your bill to be capped – you don’t need to be claiming benefits.

You need to get free debt advice before applying.

Find out more about Assist.

Yorkshire Water’s WaterSupport scheme offers to cap your bills if:

• your household earns less than £19,000

And

• your yearly water bill is more than £364

If you have children or a larger household, you might get extra support.

Find out more about WaterSupport.

You’ll qualify for a capped water bill of £290.03 a year (£116.52 for water, £173.51 for sewerage) if you meet all of the criteria:

• someone in your homes gets a means-tested benefit
• your household income falls under the threshold

After 12 months, you’ll need to reapply for the tariff (you can do this up to a month before it runs out).

Means-tested benefits

At least one person in your home must get one of the following:

• universal credit
• income related employment & support allowance (ESA)
• income-based jobseeker's allowance (JSA)
• income support
• pension credit
• child tax credit (except families receiving family element only)
• working tax credit
• housing benefit
• council tax reduction (based on income, not just a single person discount)

Income threshold based on household size

• 1 person – £11,600
• 2 people – £17,400
• 3+ people – £18,800

For example:

Two adults living together with no children would have an income threshold of £17,400.

A single parent with two children under 16 would have an income threshold of £18,800 because three people live there.

The following benefits don’t count towards the income threshold:

• universal credit – housing, carers, disabled child and limited capability for work elements
• ESA – support group, work related activity group and disability or carer premiums
• pension credit, JSA or income support – disability or carer premiums
• child or working tax credits – disability premiums
• housing benefit
• council tax reduction/support
• attendance allowance
• disability living allowance
• personal independent payment
• carers allowance

Find out more about HelpU.

Here2Help offers a 30-70% discount to those on a low income.

You don’t need to be receiving benefits or in arrears to apply.

Your income threshold depends on how many dependents live with you full-time:

• No dependents – £22,010
• 1-2 – £24,010
• 3+ – £26,010

The following benefits don’t count towards the income threshold:

• housing benefit
• council tax benefit
• attendance allowance
• disability living allowance
• personal independent payment
• carers allowance

You’ll need to reapply after 12 months.

Find out more about Here2Help.

If you’re on benefits, have a water meter and use a lot of water for medical reasons or because you have at least three children, you might be able to get help with your water bills under the WaterSure scheme.

Find out what to do if you’ve fallen behind on your water bills.