WaterSure scheme: thousands more UK families set to get £325 average water bill help - how to claim
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Tens of thousands of Yorkshire households could see extra savings this year 💧
- Thousands more households on disability benefits could get help with their water bills under expanded support rules
- The WaterSure scheme caps water bills for homes that must use high amounts of water
- Around 53,000 additional low-income households across England will become eligible
Thousands more households across Yorkshire who receive disability benefits could soon qualify for help with their water bills, after the Government expanded a little-known support scheme.
The changes mean tens of thousands of additional families across England will be able to cap their water costs through the WaterSure scheme, potentially saving hundreds of pounds a year.
Ministers say the move could bring relief to households struggling with rising living costs, particularly those whose medical needs or family circumstances mean they cannot reduce how much water they use.
What is the WaterSure scheme?
WaterSure is a support scheme designed to limit the amount certain households have to pay for water each year.
It is aimed at homes that use unusually large amounts of water but cannot easily cut back, often because of medical needs or large families.
Currently, around 260,000 households already receive help through the scheme, saving an average of about £325 per year.
Under the system, a household’s water bill is capped at the average bill for their water company’s area, preventing costs from spiralling if they need to use more water than usual.
Who will newly qualify for help?
Under the reforms announced by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), an extra 53,000 low-income households receiving disability benefits will become eligible.
The scheme will now be open to households where someone receives:
- Disability Living Allowance
- Personal Independence Payment (PIP)
- Attendance Allowance
To qualify under the new rules, the household must also have an income below £25,745 per year.
Campaigners say the change recognises that many disabled people have no choice but to use more water, for example due to frequent washing, laundry, or medical procedures carried out at home.
What other changes are being made?
The reforms also include measures designed to make the scheme easier to access and potentially more generous. People applying will no longer have to pay for a doctor’s note confirming their medical condition.
The way the bill cap is calculated will also change, with many households already receiving WaterSure support expected to see additional savings of up to £100 a year.
Why are the rules changing?
Water minister Emma Hardy said the reforms are designed to help vulnerable households cope with the cost of living.
She said: “Vulnerable households are particularly affected by cost-of-living pressures, including water bills. Reforming WaterSure will make a meaningful difference to hundreds of thousands of families who need support the most.”
Consumer groups and disability charities have welcomed the changes, saying water costs can be particularly high for disabled households.
James Taylor, director of strategy at disability equality charity Scope, said disabled families often have little choice but to use more water because of health needs, adding that bills can sometimes become “eye-wateringly high”.
How can households apply?
To qualify for WaterSure, households must also have a water meter and be classed as high water users.
This usually applies if someone in the home has a medical condition that requires extra water use, or if there are three or more children living in the property.
Applications are made directly through the household’s water company, which will assess whether they meet the criteria.
Households that think they may qualify are encouraged to contact their provider to check eligibility and apply.
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