We’re saving £168 a year on our water bill through little-known method after falling £1,000s into debt

A COUPLE person revealed however they shaved £168 a twelvemonth disconnected their h2o bills done a little-known method.

Morgan Davies and Ellie Bryan, from Liverpool, realised they could get a discount aft signing up for a societal tariff.

The tariffs are disposable to those connected a debased income and connection you a discounted rate.

Morgan, 25, and Ellie, 31, landed themselves successful £4,000 worthy of debt aft a no-fault eviction and the costs of moving home saw them autumn down connected their bills.

But aft speaking to recognition counselling work Money Wellness and receiving a missive from their h2o institution United Utilities, they realised they were eligible for a societal tariff astatine their caller property.

After signing up, their measure has fallen from astir £39 a period to astir £25 a period - £168 little crossed a year.

“I’d accidental don’t beryllium embarrassed astir admitting you’re down connected immoderate payments. You conscionable request to inquire for help," Ellie told the BBC.

"If you’re struggling with debts, telephone the institution due to the fact that 9 retired of 10 times they person a solution for you.

"There is assistance retired determination if you look."

The latest figures from the Consumer Council for Water (CCW) uncover 1.3million debased income household are signed up to societal tariffs.

It said these households saved connected mean £151 connected their h2o bills past year.

However, hundreds of thousands of customers who are successful request of assistance either don't suffice for societal tariffs owed to variations successful eligibility criteria oregon they bash qualify, but aren't aware.

It comes as The Sun exclusively revealed that the biggest h2o suppliers successful England and Wales accidental they privation to hike prices to screen the outgo of repairing leaky pipes and cutting sewage spills.

In July, the regulator Ofwat said bills could spell up by an mean of £94 successful the play up to 2030 — a 21% hike, typically moving retired astatine an other £19 a year.

But a big of companies past period submitted caller plans saying they needed much currency to screen urgent concern to the h2o network.

Troubled Thames Water said it needs to rise bills by 59% to survive, but Ofwat wants a bounds of 23%.

Southern Water had already asked to assistance bills by 72% from £420.35 a twelvemonth to £627 a year.

What are societal tariffs?

Social tariffs are disposable to those connected a debased income and are little than the modular rate.

Who is eligible and the level of enactment you tin get varies depending connected your h2o institution truthful it tin beryllium a spot of a postcode lottery.

For example, Affinity Water's societal tariff is disposable to households with a combined income of little than £18,725, excluding benefits, oregon successful receipt of a fig of benefits including Universal Credit.

If you are eligible, your yearly h2o bills are capped astatine £119.50.

Those who get council tax enactment tin besides get their h2o bills fixed astatine £79.70.

Meanwhile, South East Water has a societal tariff for households with a combined income of little oregon £18,725 oregon little per year, excluding income earned from a fig of benefits including Disability Living Allowance, PIP oregon Attendance Allowance.

If you suffice for help, your yearly h2o measure is capped astatine up to £182.82.

Yorkshire Water helps customers connected debased incomes screen h2o charges, with yearly bills capped astatine £364 if you qualify.

You whitethorn suffice if your household income is beneath £19,000 and your yearly h2o measure is much than £364.

Other assistance you tin get

If you don't suffice for a societal tariff, you whitethorn suffice for the WaterSure strategy if you unrecorded successful England oregon Wales.

The strategy is unfastened to anyone who is connected a h2o meter, definite benefits and has a precocious indispensable usage of water.

The database of benefits that suffice you include: Universal Credit, Pension Credit, Housing Benefit, income-based Jobseeker's Allowance, Income Support, income-related Employment and Support Allowance, Working Tax Credit and Child Tax Credit.

You volition beryllium classed arsenic having a precocious indispensable usage of h2o if idiosyncratic successful your household has a aesculapian information that requires the usage of tons of water, oregon you person 3 children oregon much nether 19 and successful full-time acquisition surviving there.

You use for the WaterSure strategy done your h2o firm's website oregon by calling its lawsuit work team.

Do you person a wealth occupation that needs sorting? Get successful interaction by emailing money-sm@news.co.uk.

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