Easy trick to slash your water bill by £432 a year – but millions of households miss out
MILLIONS of households could slash their water bills by up to hundreds of pounds a year.
But many Brits aren't aware of the discounts they could be entitled to.
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All water companies in England and Wales now offer social tariffs to help lower-income customers.
But because each company sets its own rules, the support varies wildly depending on where you live.
Despite the growing cost of living and rising utility prices, millions of eligible people still aren't claiming the discounts available.
Last year, consumer watchdog CCW said more than two million households had received help with their water bills, but millions more could be saving and aren't.
Some of the biggest discounts are available through schemes like WaterHelp, run by Thames Water, which offers a 50% reduction.
The reduction is for households earning under £21,749 a year (not including disability benefits), or where bills account for more than 5% of net income.
There's also WaterSure, a national scheme available to water meter customers on means-tested benefits.
If you have a medical condition that needs extra water or you have three or more children under 19 living at home, you could get your bill capped at the average annual charge.
With Thames Water, for example, that cap is currently £423 a year.
The average annual water and sewerage bill for a Thames Water customer is currently around £864.
So that means if you qualify for WaterHelp, you get 50% off your bill and would therefore save £432 a year.
What's available at other providers?
Other providers offer even bigger savings.
Southern Water gives customers up to 90% off bills through its Essentials Tariff if they earn under £22,010 and have less than £16,000 in savings.
Wessex Water, South West Water, and Bournemouth Water also offer generous reductions, in some cases 85% or more, depending on your circumstances.
Meanwhile, Anglian Water, Essex & Suffolk Water, and Northumbrian Water offer discounts of up to 50% for households earning less than £23,933 or receiving Pension Credit.
In many cases, discounts kick in if your water bill makes up more than 3% of your income after housing costs.
To find out if you're eligible, check your supplier's website or give them a call.
Some schemes ask for proof of income or benefits, while others carry out a short financial assessment.
If you're unsure who supplies your water, you can find out using this tool.
On top of that, many water firms also offer emergency grants to help with arrears, and free water-saving gadgets like tap aerators and shower timers to help cut your usage.
And with suppliers like Thames Water proposing price hikes of nearly 60% over the next six years, now's the time to act.
Don't wait until your bills go up, check if you can get help now and start saving.
what benefits you could be entitled to.
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