How to get help paying your water bill if you’re struggling due to coronavirus
HOUSEHOLDS who are struggling financially due to the coronavirus crisis can get help paying their water bills.
All water companies have support measures in place for people who struggle to pay or who are vulnerable. We explain all you need to know.
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Each water company has its own scheme to help low-income customers including social tariffs and discounts.
On top of this, companies introduced new measures earlier this year to help their customers during the pandemic and they still remain in place.
There's no cut-off date for the support, but if you're struggling to make ends meet, contact your provider as soon as possible and ask for help.
Yet 3million households have said their water bills are unaffordable - a number that is likely to grow as the coronavirus crisis continues.
To make sure the help reaches more households, CCW has now set out a series of commitments to raise awareness of the support.
The pledges include ensuring that at least 60% of consumers are aware of priority services by 2025 – up from the current 42%.
To qualify, you'll also need to receive one of the following benefits:
- Universal Credit
- Housing Benefit
- Income Support
- Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
- Working Tax Credit
- Child Tax Credit
- Pension Credit
- Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
If your household is eligible then your water bill will be capped at the average household water bill for your water company.
Once you know who your provider is, visit its website to see what support measures are available or call up customer services.
If you're getting behind on your bills or know you can't afford to pay, you should contact your provider as soon as possible.
During the first lockdown in March, water companies were banned from doing any recovery action - for example, sending reminder letters for unpaid charges.
This suspension has since been removed, in an aim to prompt struggling customers to get in touch with their provider for help.
Andy White, CCW's senior policy manager, told The Sun: "We don’t want to see a situation where households are left drowning in debt – especially when water companies have a raft of schemes that can help them stay afloat.
"If a customer receives a reminder letter about unpaid charges we’d urge them to get in touch with their water company and discuss what support they can offer them – whether that’s a payment plan or debt-write off scheme."
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