Can I get help paying my water bill?

For people in England, Wales and Scotland who are struggling to pay water bills.

Applies to: England, Scotland, Wales Last checked against official sources: 6 October 2026

If you struggle to pay your water bill, contact your water company, as there are schemes that can lower or spread the cost.

WaterSure caps the bill for some households that have a water meter.
It is for people on certain benefits who use a lot of water, for example because of a medical condition or 3 or more children under 19.
Your water company may offer extra help, including help from a charitable trust if you are in real financial difficulty.
Water Direct lets DWP take your water bill payments straight from your benefits.

Different in Scotland

For most homes, water and sewerage charges are billed alongside council tax. Ask your council about discounts and reductions.

Rules may be different in:

Key facts

There are official schemes that make water bills easier to afford. Most help comes through your water company, so they are the first place to ask.

The main types of help are:

WaterSure: a cap on your bill if you have a water meter and qualify.
Special help from your water company: support that fits your needs, for example if age, disability or a big life event makes things harder.
Charitable trusts: some water companies can help through a trust if you are in genuine financial difficulty.
Water Direct: a DWP scheme that takes water bill payments straight from your benefits, so you do not fall behind.

WaterSure started in 1999. It caps the bill for low income households that use a lot of water. Right now you usually need all of these:

a water meter
someone in the household getting a benefit such as Universal Credit, Pension Credit, Housing Benefit, income-based Jobseeker's Allowance, income-based Employment and Support Allowance or Income Support
high water use because of either 3 or more children under 19 living with you, or a medical condition such as Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis or incontinence

About 260,000 households get WaterSure. They save around £325 a year on average.

The government announced WaterSure reforms on 6 March 2026. They are due to start in early 2027. The changes include:

Disability Living Allowance, Attendance Allowance and Personal Independence Payment will count as qualifying benefits
a maximum household income of £25,745
you will no longer need medical notes
bills capped using the lower of the average metered bill or the average bill overall
one person households capped at the average bill for one person

The changes must happen in England. In Wales, water companies can choose whether to follow them.

Contact your water company. Tell them you are struggling. Ask what schemes they run, including WaterSure and any charitable trust.
Ask about a meter if you might qualify for WaterSure, as you need one.
If you get benefits, ask about Water Direct so your payments come straight out of them.
Get free advice if you also have other debts. Citizens Advice can help.

Scotland: for most homes, water and sewerage charges from Scottish Water are billed alongside council tax. If you are struggling, ask your council about council tax discounts and reductions.
Wales: WaterSure runs in Wales too, with about 30,000 households getting it. The Welsh Government has guidance for water companies on social tariffs, which are cheaper rates for people who find it hardest to pay.

This takes you to the official service, which is free to use.

Yes. WaterSure is for certain customers who have a water meter.

Yes. Reforms due in early 2027 will add PIP, DLA and Attendance Allowance as qualifying benefits, with a household income limit of £25,745.

For most homes, water and sewerage charges are billed alongside council tax, so ask your council about council tax discounts and reductions.

1.Customer assistance (Ofwat)www.ofwat.gov.uk/households/customer-assistance/
2.Reduced bills for around 300,000 households in WaterSure reform (GOV.UK)www.gov.uk/government/news/reduced-bills-for-around-300000-households-in-watersure-reform
3.Council Tax (mygov.scot)www.mygov.scot/council-tax

Checked against GOV.UK on 6 October 2026

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