Millions of households are missing out on a benefit that could save them money on their water bills, according to expert Martin Lewis.
The cash-saving guru has said that the benefit could give 5.7 million families vital support if they need help to pay their bill. Water social tariffs are worth around £160 a year on average to some of the poorest households, the Mirror reports.
Mr Lewis told Good Morning Britain this week that only two in 10 people who are eligible for this claiming this benefit right now. He described it as the ‘biggest’ and also the ‘least known’ source of help to people.
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"Every water company has to have its own social tariff," he said on the show.
"Now, this is for people on lower incomes. Only two in 10 people who are eligible for this claiming this right now.
"So what you need to do if you’re on a lower income and you’re struggling to pay your water bill, or even if you’re not, if you’re just on a lower income, so go to your firm’s website and search social tariffs.
“If you’re not online, call up the firm and see if there’s any help. And there’s more help, too.
"If you’re on a water metre, the water shore scheme for those on benefits. If you have a medical need, which means you need to use more water, or you’ve got three plus school-age children, that’s an extra help that you get as well as this or separately to this.”
All companies have social tariffs for customers who struggle to pay their bills. Regulator Ofwat recommends that if people are worried about paying their water bills they should contact their provider as soon as possible to see what help they can offer.
Ofwat also said: "You can also sign up to a Priority Services Register (PSR) to receive free extra help from your water company. This could be for many reasons such as an illness, disability, health condition, or extra communication needs; you can also register if you need short-term support. Please contact your company to see if you are eligible for extra help."
The UK Government has information that explains what support is available to help with the cost of living. This includes income and disability benefits, bills and allowances, childcare, housing and travel.
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