Charities back call for a water social tariff

The campaign spearheaded by independent age, includes 25 other organisations, who in a first step have sent a joint letter to new Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Emma Reynolds, making the case for a national tariff.

Water usage for Disabled people can be high as families, individuals and carers may require additional use of water for personal care such as bathing, using specialized hygiene equipment, or laundering adaptive clothing and bedding due to continence issues or because of severe skin conditions such as eczema.

Independent Age commissioned polling earlier this year which found that 42% of older adults in England and Wales living on a low income of below £15,000 per year describe keeping up with their water bills as either a ‘constant struggle’ or a struggle from ‘time to time’. The picture for working age adults was similar – research by Ofwat published in May this year found that 50% of water bill payers reported having cut down on water usage at some point because they were worried about the cost of bills. 

Currently all water companies in England and Wales offer social tariffs, but the eligibility criteria and benefits can vary significantly between providers, this means that people living in financial hardship, especially Disabled people, pay vastly different amounts for water. 

There is also a scheme called Watersure which helps some people with their water bills. However although many water suppliers including Thames Water, Severn Trent and Yorkshire Water are part of the scheme, which caps your bills based on the average metered bill for your area, you need to have a water meter or be waiting to have one installed to be part of the scheme.

The campaign group behind this new water social tariff proposal say implementing one would be an effective and simpler way to provide fair and consistent support for people in financial hardship, helping ensure more people are able to access the water they need without having to make extreme sacrifices.

Joanna Elson, chief executive of Independent Age said: “Across England and Wales, many older people on low incomes tell us they are only washing a few times a week, reducing the amount of laundry they do and even avoiding flushing the toilet to save money. No one of any age should have to live like this. Water is an essential utility, but the current system is broken, the postcode lottery needs to end.”

“Water bills are set to rise in the coming years and without intervention from the UK Government, there will be a drastic surge in the number of older people living in water poverty. A national water social tariff in England and Wales would protect people living on low incomes.”

Dan White policy and campaigns officer at DR UK and co-lead of the Disability Poverty Campaign Group said: “We know for a fact that along with energy, water is not only essential but has a higher usage in Disabled households.”

“This proposal of a unified and easily implemented social tariff would make a huge difference to the lives of Disabled people and carers who are struggling to make ends meet because of constant rises in utilities.”

“The Government simply must do something to ease financial burdens on Disabled households and providing affordable water would be a first, best step. Disabled people and organisations want it, public opinion is on side and now there is significant backing from the Independent Water Commission who recently made it a key recommendation of its final report. “