Reduced water bills for disabled households announced

2 mins read

Monday 9 March 2026

This advice applies in England and Wales only.

Low-income disabled households with a water meter will get reduced water bills as part of reform to the WaterSure scheme in England and Wales.

Disability Living Allowance (DLA), Personal Independence Payment (PIP) and Attendance Allowance will join the list of qualifying benefits for the scheme, the government has announced.

A change to price cap rules will also see most existing WaterSure claimants save up to £100 each.

The reforms will come into force in early 2027. Water companies in England must adopt the changes, but in Wales the changes will be voluntary.

What is WaterSure?

WaterSure and WaterSure Wales work the same way.

Both schemes cap your water bill so you won’t pay more than the average metered bill for the area your water company covers.

Who currently qualifies?

To qualify you must:

• Be on certain benefits (see below).
• Have a water meter (or be waiting for one to be installed).
• Have a high essential use of water because either:
  • You have three or more children under 19 in full-time education.
  • You have a child with a medical condition or disability that requires your household to use a lot of water.

The benefits you need to claim depends on your supplier. However, all suppliers offer the scheme to households that claim one of the following:

• Universal Credit.
• Pension Credit.
• Housing Benefit.
• Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance.
• Income Support.
• Income-related Employment and Support Allowance.

What is changing?

All suppliers will offer the scheme to households in which someone claims DLA, PIP or Attendance Allowance and the household income is less than £25,745.

Your household will still need to have a high essential use of water due to having three or more children or a medical need. However, you will no longer need to provide notes from your GP proving this. Alternative proof like a prescription or NHS letter may be accepted.

A further change will see water suppliers use the lowest calculation of those available to determine the WaterSure cap. This will save households of more than one person on average £26 a year. The cap will also be adjusted for single households, who will save an additional £100 as a result.

Share