Under the Water Industry (Vulnerable Groups) Regulations 1999, the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions has designated Customers in certain prescribed circumstances to be eligible for assistance by requiring the Company to charge no more than the average household charge which is shown in the Schedule of Charges. This is calculated in accordance with a formula determined by the Director General. An application form is available from the Company on request.

The Company is required to assess the eligibility for assistance of any Customer who applies and to take reasonable steps to verify the Customer's entitlement. This may include checking claims with third parties such as Jobcentre Plus (formally known as the Benefits Agency) or the Customer's doctor.

To help Customers manage their water use and to promote the efficient use of water, the Company may require an audit of water use at the Premises.

Circumstances In Which Assistance Will Be Given

Assistance will be given only where eligibility is established under 'Eligibility For Assistance' and:

• Charges for the Premises are on a metered basis;
• The Premises are occupied as the Customer's only or principal home;
• Use of the Premises as the Customer's home is the principal use of the Premises;
• A sprinkler, hosepipe or any other apparatus for garden watering is not in use at the Premises (unless held in the hand at all times);
• A swimming pool or pond with a capacity greater than 10,000 litres [designed to be replenished by automatic means] is not in use.

Eligibility For Assistance

A Customer is entitled to assistance if he or another person residing with him in the Premises:

EITHER:

Can prove entitlement to receive Child Benefit for three or more dependent children under the age of 19 who reside in the Premises and can prove entitlement to receive any of the following benefits:

• Council Tax Benefit
• Housing Benefit
• Income Support
• Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance
• Working Tax Credit
• Child tax Credit (except families in receipt of the family element only)
• Pension Credit

Proof of entitlement to the relevant benefits will be through production of the order book or a copy of the latest notice of entitlement (provided neither are dated more than 12 months before the date of the application – 6 months in the case of Tax Credits).

OR:

• Is diagnosed, or has a child who is diagnosed, by a suitably qualified medical practitioner as suffering from and receiving treatment for any of the following medical conditions:
• Desquamation (flaky skin loss);
• Weeping skin disease (eczema, psoriasis, varicose ulceration);
• Incontinence;
• Abdominal stoma;
• Renal failure requiring dialysis at home;
• Crohn's disease;
• As result of the relevant condition is obliged to consume a significant additional volume of water;
• And can prove entitlement to receive any of the above benefits.

The Company may require the application to be supported by relevant information on:

• The medical condition;
• Its impact on increased water consumption at the Premises;
• The nature of any treatment for the condition; and
• The name and address of the medical practitioner prescribing that treatment.

The Company will also consider requests for assistance from customers in receipt of the specified benefits who have other medical conditions which involve the significant use of water.

Period Of Entitlement To Assistance

The WaterSure Tariff will apply from the beginning of the billing period in which the application for assistance is made and end 12 months later or, if earlier, at the end of the billing period when the Customer ceases to be eligible for assistance. If the period of assistance is less than 12 months the Customer will be entitled to the protected bill for each entire billing period for which he can show that he is eligible for protection. If the anniversary of the application falls within a billing period the entitlement to the WaterSure Tariff will extend to end of this billing period.

Applying for WaterSure Tariff

Before applying to be put on the WaterSure Tariff please read the Notes below.

• WaterSure Tariff - Notes for Applicants 

After reading the notes you are eligible for being on the WaterSure Tariff please download & complete the Application Form below returning to us with relevant supporting evidence.

• WaterSure Tariff - Application Form