If your household has a low income or someone in your household receives benefits, then you could be eligible to switch to the Thames Water Social tariff. A social tariff is a special reduced-rate tariff offered by water and waste water providers for those on lower incomes.
WaterHelp and WaterSure by Thames Water
If you are struggling to pay your water bill then Thames Water will do all that they can to help. They currently offer two different schemes to make paying your water bill easier. WaterSure is a bill cap and WaterHelp is a scheme for low-income households, households with larger families and those who have a water-dependent medical condition.
WaterHelp Social Tariff by Thames Water
WaterHelp may be able to provide you with a discounted water bill if you live in a low-income household. If you qualify for the WaterHelp tariff then you can get a 50% discount on your annual water bill.
Households with incomes below £17,005 (or £21,749 if you live in a Borough of London), are considered as low-income households by Thames Water, so if you allow them to verify your income and you are approved then you will be eligible for the reduced rate.
Thames Water WaterSure Bill Cap
If you’re on a water meter then you may be struggling to save water due to the fact that you have a large family or a water-dependent health condition. Thames Water may be able to offer some assistance with their WaterSure bill cap.
The bill cap is based on the average price that Thames Water customer pay for their water. For 2022/23 the average bill is £423. If you use less than this amount of water then you will keep paying less, however if you use more than this Thames Water will not bill you any more as they will cap your bill at this amount.
In order to qualify for the WaterSure scheme, someone in your household needs to:
- Receive a means-tested benefit (see below list) and either
- Have a medical condition that requires use of extra water, or
- Three or more children under the age of 19 living at the property making you eligible for child benefits.
What benefits qualify for the Thames Water WaterSure bill cap?
The following benefits are qualifying:
- Child Tax Credit (if you are receiving more than the family element)
- Housing Benefit
- Income-based Job Seeker’s Allowance
- Income Support
- Pension Credit
- Working Tax Credit
- Universal Credit
There is also a list of qualifying medical conditions for the WaterSure bill cap:
- Abdominal stoma
- Crohn’s disease
- Desquamation
- Eczema, psoriasis or varicose ulceration
- Incontinence
- Ulcerative colitis
- Renal conditions that require home dialysis
- Other medical conditions that require the use of extra water
How to apply for the Thames Water social tariff
In order to apply for the WaterHelp or WaterSure social tariffs, you need to download an application from the Thames Water website. There are also instructions on what supporting evidence you will need to supply in order to be eligible for their social tariffs.