Martin Lewis’ Money Saving Expert has urged consumers to check if they can reduce their water bills by £160 a year.
The latest edition of the Money Saving Expert newsletter said some 5.7 million Britons could be missing out on a reduction on their bills by switching to a social tariff.
The newsletter said: “Social tariffs are offered by all firms and can reduce what you pay by up to 90 percent .
“There are 5.7 million eligible households missing out on an estimated £160 a year on average.”
A person called Anita got in touch with the group after she got a 60 percent reduction on her water bills saving her around £24 a month.
READ MORE: Bank launches 5.4% one-year fixed rate saver and increases rates across savings accounts
Social tariffs are available from all water suppliers and are intended to provide reduced bills for vulnerable households or people on low incomes.
Eligibility criteria vary depending on the supplier. For customers with South East Water, if a person’s annual income is below £18,005 they may be able to get a social tariff.
Those on a social tariff with Southern Water can cut their bill by a minimum of 45 percent and up to 90 percent.
A person can find out what social tariffs are available from their supplier by checking the company’s website.
Some mobile and broadband providers also offer social tariffs, such as Sky, BT and Virgin Media, which can provide significant discounts on bills.
Below are some of the social tariffs currently available as listed on the Ofcom website, including the monthly rates:
- 4th Utility Social Tariff – £13.99 – 30Mbit/s
- BT Home Essentials – £15 – Around 36 Mbit/s
- BT Home Essentials 2 – £20 – Around 67 Mbit/s
- Community Fibre Essential – £12.50 – 20 Mbit/s
- Country Connect Social Tariff – £15 – 50 Mbit/s
- EE Basics – £12 – Up to 25 Mbit/s
- G. Network Essential Fibre Broadband – £15 – 50 Mbit/s
- Grayshott Gigabit Connect – £19 – 100 Mbit/s
- Hyperoptic Fair Fibre 50 – £15 – 50 Mbit/s
- Hyperoptic Fair Fibre 150 – £20 – 150 Mbit/s
- KCOM Full Fibre Flex £14.99 – 30 Mbit/s
- Lightning Fibre Social Tariff – £15 – 50 Mbit/s
- Lothian Broadband Social Tariff – £19.99 – 100 Mbit/s
- NOW Broadband Basics – £20 – 36 Mbit/s
- Sky Broadband Basics – £20 – 36 Mbit/s
- SMARTY Social Tariff – £12 – 5G where available
- Virgin Media Essential Broadband – £12.50 – 15 Mbit/s
- Virgin Media Essential Broadband Plus – £20 – 54 Mbit/s
- Vodafone Essentials Broadband – £12 – 38 Mbit/s
- VOXI For Now – £10 – 5G where available
- Wildanet Helping Hand Social Tariff – £20 – 30 to 100 Mbit/s
- WightFibre Essential Broadband – £16.50 – 100 Mbit/s.
Some one million Britons had to disconnect their broadband over the past year as they could not afford rising bills.
Research found people on Universal Credit were six times more likely to have stopped their internet than those not on the benefit.
Dame Clare Moriarty, chief executive of Citizens Advice, said those who are missing out on social tariffs are the “most likely” to disconnect.
She said: “People are being priced out of internet access at a worrying rate. Social tariffs should be the industry’s safety net, but firms’ current approach to providing and promoting them clearly isn’t working.”
People on low incomes may also want to check if they can claim any benefits and cost of living payments.
A person can check how much benefits they can claim using an online benefits calculator, such as the one on the Turn2us website.
Britons on certain means-tested benefits, such as Universal Credit, are also receiving a £900 cost of living payment in three instalments over this financial year.
Individuals who claim disability benefits are also to get a £150 cost of living payment, which is going out later this month.
Pensioners who get the Winter Fuel Payment this winter are also to get an additional cost of living payment, of between £150 and £300.
Martin Lewis is the Founder and Chair of MoneySavingExpert.com. To join the 13 million people who get his free Money Tips weekly email, go to www.moneysavingexpert.com/latesttip.
For the latest personal finance news, follow us on Twitter at @ExpressMoney_.
