An additional 53,000 households are set to receive an average reduction of £325 on their water bills following a significant revamp of a support program. The WaterSure initiative, which currently limits the bills of specific high-water-consuming households, will now extend its eligibility to include individuals receiving certain disability benefits.
To qualify for the WaterSure program, individuals must be recipients of Disability Living Allowance, Attendance Allowance, or Personal Independence Payments (PIP), with a yearly household income below £25,745. Currently, around 260,000 households benefit from the scheme, saving an average of £325 each, according to the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs.
Households seeking eligibility must have a water meter and qualify as high water users due to either a specific medical condition or having three or more children in the household. The requirement of a doctor’s note for application has been eliminated.
The reforms in eligibility will also adjust the method of determining the price cap, potentially resulting in additional savings of up to £100 for most current recipients. Water Minister Emma Hardy emphasized the importance of these changes in alleviating financial burdens on vulnerable households, stating that the modifications align with the Water White Paper’s objectives of customer advocacy and environmental protection.
Mike Keil, Chief Executive of the Consumer Council for Water (CCW), expressed satisfaction with the UK Government’s adoption of most of CCW’s recommended changes, noting that the improvements will offer reassurance to many customers facing high water usage due to essential needs.
James Taylor, director of strategy at disability equality charity Scope, welcomed the expansion of discounted water bill eligibility to more disabled families, acknowledging the financial challenges they face due to increased water usage for essential purposes. The initiative aims to provide relief to households grappling with rising water costs, particularly benefitting vulnerable customers.