Are you missing out on discounts on your water bill?
The cost of living continues to rise, and water bills are no exception. This year, water bills for households in England and Wales rose by an average of £123. This works out as around £10 extra a month.
Many water companies offer discounts if you're on a low income or receiving certain benefits. These are known as social tariffs, but a lot of people don’t realise they can get them. In fact, research shows that £974 million worth of water bill social tariffs weren’t claimed in 2024.
Social tariffs are different from welfare benefits, and you need to apply for them separately. This is one reason why many people are missing out.
Speak to your water provider to see if you qualify for support. Below are some of the social tariffs available from local water companies.
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Anglian Water – LITE and Extra LITE: Based on your individual situation you could get a discount of up to 50% on your water and sewerage charges.
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Essex and Suffolk Water – SupportPLUS: Households earning less than £26,000 or those where a member receives Pension Credit (and whose water bill is 3% or more of net income) can get up to 40% off their annual bill.
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South East Water: Customers with a household income below £17,000 (excluding disability benefits) will receive a 50% reduction. Those with an annual household income of between £17,000 and £21,000 will get a 30% reduction on their bill.
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Thames Water – WaterHelp: Households spending more than 5% of their net income on water bills may receive a 50% discount.
If you’re not sure who your water provider is, you can use this handy postcode checker on Water UK.
If you’re worried about money, get in touch with us on 0300 555 0500, or email mb-welfarebenefits@chp.org.uk. Our friendly welfare benefits team are here to help.