Rebate on water and sewerage charges

[moanalot]

Hallo all,

This may be able to help many people who suffer from one of the following. The full list can be obtained from your water company either online or via a quick phone call. Our water supplier is Anglian water. You could get a discount of your water and sewerage charges.

Here is the link to the watersure page....
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If you suffer from one of the below and are receiving benefits
Desquamation (flaky skin disease)
Weeping skin disease (eczema, psoriasis, varicose ulceration)
Incontinence
Abdominal stoma
Crohn's disease
Ulcerative colitis
Renal failure requiring home dialysis (except where the health authority contributes to the cost of the water used in dialysis)
Any other medical condition that uses significant volumes of water and can be supported by a Doctor's certificate.

[Aginoth]

checked bristol water/wessex water  as we have water from one and sewerage from t'other

Psoriasis is specifically covered....

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our total bill is about £290 this year for unmetered

the Watersure scheme will cap our bill to £156 for 2009/2010

a saving of £134 a year

[Roger]

Thames water appears to only do it if you are metered

[SJ]

Am I right in thinking this is only for those who are on means-tested benefits - ie you can't get it just because you have P!?!

[Aginoth]

Am I right in thinking this is only for those who are on means-tested benefits - ie you can't get it just because you have P!?!

edited...see later post

[SJ]

Am I right in thinking this is only for those who are on means-tested benefits - ie you can't get it just because you have P!?!

nope, according to bristol water all that is needed is a doctors letter confirming diagnosis of a qualifying condition

Both the documents posted above (Anglia and Bristol) state that you have to be in receipt of benefit (they list mean tested ones) and have the medical condition?

Am I reading it wrong?

[Aginoth]

it's badly written but i read it as you need to be on one of the listed benefits and have 3 kids, or have a qualifying condition from bristol water doc...hmmm but having re-read it i'm now not so sure.

i've not had a chance to contact them to ask yet but will do so next week to confirm.

but in anycase I am in receipt of the disability element of Child Tax Credit and have 3 kids for whom we get Child Benefit, and have qualifying condition, so pretty sure that i qualify

This is the blurb from Bristol water

To be eligible for this charge the conditions are that:
a) The customer, or any other person who lives at the property, is in receipt of one or
more of the following benefits:
• Income Support
• Income-related JobSeekers Allowance
• Income-related Employment Support
• Housing Benefit
• Council Tax Benefit
• Working Tax Credit
• Pension Credit
• Child Tax Credit (except families in receipt of the family element only)

b) And that either the same person receives child benefit for three or more
dependent children under the age of 19 who live in the household, or that any person
residing in the property is receiving treatment for one or more of the following medical
conditions and if the condition causes them to use a significant volume of water.
• Desquamation (flaky skin loss)
• Weeping skin disease (eczema, psoriasis, varicose ulceration)
• Incontinence
• Abdominal stomas or
• Renal failure requiring home dialysis
• Crohn’s disease
• Ulcerative colitis
The Company will also consider requests for assistance from customers in receipt of
the specified benefits who have other medical conditions, which involve significant
use of water.
The customer or other qualifying person must occupy the whole or part of the
property as their only or principal home. Where the customer occupies only part of
the property, this must still be the principal purpose of the property.

[Scruff]

Seems a bit of shame that you have to be on benefits to get the discount ... I'm sure we all use more water than we would if we didn't have p (washing ourselves and cleaning up after creams!). Ho hum, onward and upward.

[terrimayormaynot]

Do you have to have a water meter?

[Aginoth]

Do you have to have a water meter?

no not under the scheme as defined by Bristol water...YMMV

[justnotmycupoftea]

What about students? Why can they not be apart of the scheme also?

[moanalot]

With all these questions, perhaps each individual should phone their water company and get the info from the horses mouth so to speak.
They may be able to "bend the rules" somewhat if asked or under pressure say from your MP.  

One could also write your MP and see if they can help.
I got my reply back from the sewerage company and immediately went into credit on our acount and will be getting a £5.00 a month off our account. I am now waiting for the water company to reply.

[John Boy]

worth a look

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[snowy]

From Thames Water.....

WaterSure scheme: Support for metered customers

We may be able to offer financial assistance with your metered bill if anyone in your household receives a specific state benefit and has a large family of three or more children or a medical condition that requires the use of extra water.
If you can answer yes to the following questions, you could qualify for help with your metered water bills.

To qualify, you should answer either question 4 or question 5.

If the answer to any question is no you do not qualify for help.

Question    Answer
1. Are your water bills based on meter readings?    
2. If you have a garden, do you use only a hand-held appliance to water it?    
3. Are any of the following benefits / tax credits paid to you or someone else in your household?

    * Child Tax Credit (you must receive more than the family element)
    * Housing Benefit
    * Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance
    * Income Support
    * Means-tested Council Tax Benefit (not including reductions / discounts)
    * Pension Credit
    * Working Tax Credit

   

Now answer either Q4 or Q5
4. Is the person who receives benefits / tax credits responsible for three or more children under 19?

    * who usually live in your household, and
    * for whom Child Benefit is also paid

   
5. Does the person who receives benefits/tax credits (or any other permanent resident) suffer from and receive treatment for one of the following medical conditions?

    * Abdominal stoma
    * Crohn's disease
    * Desquamation (flaky skin disease)
    * Eczema, psoriasis or varicose ulceration (weeping skin disease)
    * Incontinence
    * Ulcerative colitis
    * Any other medical condition requiring the use of extra water



If you answered yes to the questions above, please download the WaterSure application form below, complete and return to:

WaterSure Team
Thames Water
PO Box 508
Swindon
SN38 9TU

You can also call our dedicated number on 0845 641 0068 (Minicom 0845 7200 899).




So because I have no benefits I cannot take advantage.

[Soldersplash]

Its the same at Anglian Water so no special rates for me either since we don't claim any benefits.

[cara09]

Welsh Water provide a similar scheme called Welsh Water Assist

More information available at the following link:

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This year the Welsh Water Assist charges are:

£125.00 for water and £125.00 for sewerage for the period 1/4/09 - 31/3/10

[Midge]

Welsh Water provide a similar scheme called Welsh Water Assist

More information available at the following link:

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This year the Welsh Water Assist charges are:

£125.00 for water and £125.00 for sewerage for the period 1/4/09 - 31/3/10

Wow! I've just downloaded the forms - I'll save a fortune seeing as I currently pay them £38 pm!

Thanks!

[Toffypops]

I just so happen to work for a water company and sometimes deal with WaterSure claims...so any questions you might have about applying, feel free to private message me and I'll do my best to answer them. 

[Daisy86]

I'm also with Anglian water, but unfortunately can't get help with this as I don't receive any benefits. It does frustrate me though as I'm on quite a low income and any help with bills etc would be great. It's a shame they don't take that into consideration really.

 

[cymraes]

I spoke to welsh water, and because we are not on any benefits we are not eligable. The goverment want people to be back in work instead of claiming benefits, and yet if you are working you don't get any assistance.

[emme]

I contacted South West Water and they do the scheme but you have to be on both means tested benefits and have a condition or children under 16. Also to be earning under £17k a year. My boyfriend of 8 years has psoriasis and arthritis and works full time. He's in constant pain and the hospital when having admitted him didn't even question time off work due to being so bad. Surely he should benefit from this although he is working?! It should just be about the condition not whether you are on benefits or have children.
We are unable to receive it but hope this info helps xx

[bubblesgirl]

After years of paying exortionate water bills, my ex partner, who is also a sufferer was kind enough to tell me about the water scheme. It was simple to apply, once i got the forms, just had to get my doc to sign it after i did my bit. Within 10 days my water bill was reduced from £40 a month to £9.99!!!! 

What annoys me is the fact that it isnt advertised as well as it should. Lots of people with skin conditions and other medical problems who need lots of water dont know about it. 

[leamarieuk]

I've had a look at this, I'm with severn trent water. I fit the criteria, only thing is that I would need a water meter fitting.

Not sure if I will be any better off as we use a lot of water with baths and at least one load of washing a day :/ Will phone tomorrow and ask