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Manchester Evening News

National

Rachel Pugh

Martin Lewis' MSE says 100,000s of households can apply for up to 90% off their water bill immediately

Martin Lewis MSE Money Saving Expert London Aldi Amazon Anglian Water

Money Saving Expert, the website founded by Martin Lewis, is urging everyone to check if they can get up to 90% slashed off their water bill straight away.

MSE says hundreds of thousands of households could be eligible for up to 90% off their water bill by making a simple switch. The website is advising people to switch to a discounted tariff provided by their supplier to get the mammoth discount.

The advice comes as millions of households struggle to afford to pay their bills and for basic necessities thanks to the cost of living crisis. According to Martin Lewis, things are only set to get worse.

MSE says almost all water suppliers in England and Wales offer discounted tariffs. As households are locked into using the water and sewerage company that supplies their area, MSE has a round-up of the supplier offers for all the different regions, as well as the full eligibility criteria for each.

It comes as Anglian Water announced earlier this month an additional £135 million in funding to provide discounted tariffs of up to 50% off water bills for low income households.

Chris Newlands, news and investigations editor at MoneySavingExpert, said: "Water bills make up a significant part of people's monthly outgoings and so it is great to know there is help out there for those who are struggling, with some providers now offering up to 90% off bills as the cost of living crisis worsens. Applying doesn’t take long and most suppliers have set up easy systems to help with this process. However, for some you’ll need to provide proof of income and any benefits you receive."

Here's the full list of suppliers and the discounts they offer in England:

Water supplier	Level of discount	Eligibility	How to get it
Affinity Water	Bill capped at £107.20/yr	Household income of less than £16,480, excluding benefits OR You receive one of the following benefits: - Housing benefit - Income-related employment and support allowance - Income support - Job seeker's allowance - Pension credit - Universal credit	Apply online or send a Whatsapp message to 07971013368. You need to provide your postcode and evidence of your benefits and/or income
Anglian Water	Up to 50% off bills	You need to be on a meter, or paying measured charges if you can't have a meter, and undertake an affordability assessment	Apply online or call 0800 232 1963. You need proof of household income
Bristol Water	Up to 88% off bills	You need to be on a low income or in financial difficulty eg receiving help from a debt advisor, and undertake an affordability assessment	Apply online. You need proof of income and details of any debt management plans
Bournemouth Water	Bill capped at £141.10/yr	You need to be on a water meter, or paying measured charges if you can't have a meter AND You receive one of the following benefits: - Child tax credit - Housing benefit - Income-related employment and support allowance - Income support - Job seeker's allowance - Pension credit - Working tax credit - Universal credit AND You have 3 or more children under 19 years old living in the house for whom you’re receiving child benefit OR You, or someone living in your house, has a medical condition that means you have to use extra water.	Download the application form or call 01202 590059
Cambridge Water	60% off bills in year one, then 40% off in year two	You receive the guarantee element of pension credit OR You have a household income of less than £19,050, excluding certain benefits	Download the application form.
Dŵr Cymru	Bill capped at £266.47/yr	At least one person in the household must receive a means-tested benefit AND Have a low household income	Apply online. You may need proof of income and you'll need to reapply for the discount every 12 months
Essex and Suffolk Water	Up to 50% off bills	You have a household income of less than £17,005, or £20,111 if you live in London, and your annual bill costs more than 3% of your net household income OR You, or someone you live with, receives pension credit and your annual bill costs more than 3% of your net household income OR Your income doesn't cover your essential bills and you're on a debt management plan	Email supportplus@nwl.co.uk. You need to provide proof of household income
Hafren Dyfrdwy	Up to 90% off bills	You have a household income of less than £18,278, excluding benefits	Apply online or call 0800 085 305. You need proof of income and need to reapply for the discount every 12 months
Hartlepool Water	Up to 50% off bills	You need to be on a meter, or paying measured charges if you can't have a meter, and undertake an affordability assessment	Apply online or call 0800 232 1963. You need proof of household income
Northumbrian Water	Up to a 50% reduction on your bill	You have a household income of less than £17,005 and your annual bill costs more than 3% of your net household income OR You, or someone you live with, receive pension credit and your annual bill costs more than 3% of your net household income OR Your income doesn't cover your essential bills and you're on a debt management plan	Email supportplus@nwl.co.uk. You need to provide proof of household income
Portsmouth Water	Bill capped at £82.73/yr	You have a household income of less than £17,005, excluding benefits	Download the application form. You may need to provide proof of income
SES Water	50% off bills	Your annual gross income is less than £16,480 outside of London, or less than £20,111 in London, excluding certain benefits	Apply online. You may need to provide proof of income
Severn Trent Water	Up to 90% off bills	You have a household income of less than £18,278, excluding benefits	Apply online. You'll need proof or income and any benefits you receive
South East Water	Bill capped at £157.78/yr	You have a household income of less than £16,480, excluding certain benefits	Call 0800 952 4000 or send a message and request a callback. You may need proof of income
South Staffs Water	60% off bills in year one, then 40% off in year two	You receive the guarantee element of pension credit OR You have a household income of less than £19,050, excluding certain benefits	Download the application form. You need to provide proof of income
South West Water	15% to 85% off bills	You need to be on a water meter AND You, or someone you live with, need to be claiming one of these means-tested benefits: - Housing benefit - Income based employment and support allowance - Income based job seeker’s allowance - Income support - Pension Credit (guaranteed element) - Universal Credit	Download the application form or call 0344 346 1010. You may need to provide proof of income
Southern Water	At least 45% off bills	You have a household income of less than £21,000, excluding certain benefits OR You, or someone you live with, receives pension credit	Complete this online form or call 0800 027 0363. You may need to provide proof of income
Thames Water	50% off bills	You have a household income of less than £16,480 outside of London, or below £20,111 in London	Download the application form. You need to provide proof of income
United Utilities	Bill capped at £258/yr or £366/yr depending on how many people you live with	You receive pension credit	Apply online. You may need to provide proof of benefits and household income
Annual bill reduced by between £90 to £492	You need to be claiming at least one of these means-tested benefits: - Child tax credit - Council tax reduction/support - Housing benefit - Income-based job seeker’s allowance- - Income-related employment and support allowance - Income support - Pension credit - Universal credit - Working tax credit AND You are in arrears with your previous year's water bill and/or you have a household income of less than £21,000 if the reason you're applying is due to a recent life event
Wessex Water	Bill reduced based on your ability to pay	You'll need to be receiving financial help from a debt advisor	Apply online. You'll need to provide the details of your debt help/management plan
Yorkshire Water	Bill capped at £350/yr	You are on a low income and your yearly bill is more than £350	Complete an application form or call 01274 250542