More disabled people may qualify for a cap on their water bills from 2027. The government has announced that the existing WaterSure discount scheme will be expanded to cover those on certain disability benefits in England and Wales.  In Scotland, water bills are different as charges are part of your council tax bill and there are no domestic water charges in Northern Ireland.

How the WaterSure scheme currently works

Eligible households have a “cap” on their water bills so, regardless of the amount of water used, they won’t pay more than your supplier's average household cost.

The current qualifying criteria includes:

1. Have or be waiting to get a water meter. (If you cannot have a water meter installed you must be paying an “assessed charge” decided by your water supplier, based on how much water you typically use).
2. Be getting an eligible benefit:  Child Tax Credit, Housing Benefit, Income Support, Income-based Employment Support Allowance, Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance, Pension Credit, Universal Credit, Working Tax Credit.

And EITHER: Have three or more children under the age of 19 and in full-time education living at home.

OR: Have a specific medical condition resulting in using above average levels of water for washing and bathing.

What's changing from 2027?

From the first half of 2027 there will be four key changes to the WaterSure scheme in England (in Wales, these changes will be voluntary, so you'll need to check if your water supplier is taking part):

1. Three more benefits will qualify – though you'll still need to meet the other criteria listed above. 

The benefits being added are:
- Attendance Allowance
- Disability Allowance
- Personal Independence Payment (PIP)

2. The way the cap is calculated will be reformed. 

Currently, some suppliers use the average of all water bills while others only use metered readings to calculate the average. The new plans will "ensure companies use the lowest possible average bill" as the cap.

3. For single dwellers, bills will be capped at the average amount of water ONE person normally uses. 

The current system doesn't account for the size of each household, so those living alone end up paying more than they should.

4. There will no longer be a need to provide a medical certificate to prove a qualifying medical condition.

       Instead, alternative proof such as a prescription or NHS letter will be enough.

Further support other than WaterSure

Most water companies have other support schemes some of which do not need to have a water meter. These are essentially aimed at those on low income and or on means tested benefits and may have difficulty meeting the cost of water. These are known as Social Tariffs and have names such as WaterHelp, WaterCare or WaterAssist and vary from company to company.

How to apply for Watersure or a Social Tariff

Follow these actions: 

• If you are unsure who your water supplier is look for details on your latest water bill.
• Look at your water companies’ website as it will have details of the WaterSure Scheme and any Social Tariff as this will give you information on eligibility and how to apply.
• Don’t wait until 2027 if you are unsure, simply ring your water company and ask what support may be available now.

Don’t delay, make that call today and it may save you money!

If you need any further help or just want to talk things through Aspire's Money Matters offers free impartial guidance to people affected by Spinal Cord Injury about effective budgeting, keeping control of finances and, where needed, help to become debt free. For free and impartial guidance contact philip.kelly@aspire.org.uk

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