Can I claim assistance with my water bills?

This site uses the UK Government AccessKeys system	Protecting consumers, promoting value and safeguarding the future Skip Menus
	What's new \| Publications \| Media centre \| Price review \| FAQs Update alerts \| Consumer issues \| Site map \| Competition \| Contact us

Ofwat home > FAQs > Metering

Can I claim assistance with my water bills?

Although many households benefit from having a water meter, some may suffer hardship because they need to use large amounts for essential purposes.

Certain metered household customers are protected from paying large water bills under government regulations. If your household is eligible then you will pay only the average household water bill for your water company.

In order to qualify for this capped bill you, or someone resident in your household, will need to be in receipt of one of the following seven benefits:

council tax benefit;
housing benefit;
income Support;
income-based jobseeker's allowance;
the new working tax credit;
the child tax credit ( except families in receipt of the family element only); and
pension credit.

You will then also need to either:

be responsible for three or more children under the age of 19 in full time education living in the property:

or

have, (or have someone living with you who has) one of the following medical conditions:

desquamation, (flaky skin loss);
weeping skin disease, (eczema, psoriasis, varicose ulceration);
incontinence;
abdominal stoma;
chrohn's disease;
ulcerative colitis, or
renal failure requiring dialysis at home (where there is no contribution by the local health authority for the cost of the water used) .

And as a result of that condition the person affected is obliged to use a significant additional volume of water.

Additionally, where a doctor certifies (by the provision of a doctor's certificate) that you, or someone living with you need, to use a significant amount of additional water because of any other medical condition you may qualify for the capped bill.

This tariff is not available to metered customers who choose to use a lot of water in eg, garden sprinklers or swimming pools.

Whilst the regulations only apply to companies operating wholly or mainly in England, the two companies operating in Wales have introduced equivalent tariffs on a voluntary basis.

More information on the Water Industry (Charges) (Vulnerable Groups) Regulations 1999:
http://www.opsi.gov.uk/si/si1999/19993441.htm and the amended regulations 2005:
http://www.opsi.gov.uk/si/si2005/20050059.htm can be obtained from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs [Defra] on Tel: 08459 33 55 77.

If you believe that you may qualify, you should contact your water company for more details and an application form.

Disclaimer & Privacy Statement