A WATER company is giving out a one-off £50 payment to 300,000 households in the UK.

Affinity Water has extended its Water Assistance Scheme in order to support more customers struggling with rising bills.

The company has partnered with local organisations such as Age Concern, Citizens Advice and other community organisations.

Eligible households in the South East can be referred through their local partner to receive the £50 discount.

It is hoped that the one-off cost of living payment will cushion the impact of the inflation increase for certain vulnerable customers.

If you are unsure if your area is supplied by Affinity Water you can put your postcode into the interactive map on its website.

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Under the scheme, 20,000 households have already received a £50 voucher towards their water bill.

It is expected that some households including those on certain benefits, and some pensioners, will receive the credit on their annual bill around March next year.

Kate Haslett, chief executive officer of Affinity Water, said: "Working with local partners is very important to us as we're constantly looking at where we can support our customers, especially in the current climate.

"This is a huge step in the right direction for Affinity Water and
we’re hoping we can continue to support our local communities with these types of schemes."

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Who else offers schemes to help with water bills?

If you are not a customer of Affinity Water you may still be eligible for some help towards your bill.

Many water companies have schemes in place to help vulnerable customers.

If you are struggling the best thing to do is reach out to your supplier and ask them what they have on offer.

For instance, Anglican Water launched a £135million package to help 330, 000 customers struggling to pay their bills.

This included things such as discounted tariffs, payment plans and payment holidays.

Portsmouth Water increased the length of its payment holidays from three to six months to help households manage their bills.

It also moved more than 10,000 customers onto social tariffs.

South West Water made nearly £70 million of support available to customers since 2020 and more than £39.2million has been given back to its customers through reduced bills.

Thames Water also said it will provide support for 53,000 extra households taking the total helped to 384,000 households.

Many billpayers across the country could also get help paying off water debts through a little-known scheme and even get the balance written off.

Companies match the payments eligible customers make against the debt on their account to help clear it sooner.

We have a full list of water companies offering assistance for customers who are struggling with their bills.

How can I slash my water bills at home?

Moving to a water meter can help some households save some extra cash.

However, if you use a lot of water then this makes no sense as it could see your water bills go up.

The Consumer Council for Water offers a free water meter calculator that'll tell you if you can save by fitting a water meter.

It is worth remembering that having a water meter doesn't help with the standard charge that's based on where you live, but it can help you cut down the costs of your personal usage.

There are changes that you can make to your daily habits that could help to cut back on your water usage.

According to Uswitch, you could cut £70 from your energy and water bills by reducing the time you spend in the shower.

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Leaving the water running while you brush your teeth could also be adding £60 a year to your bill says Octopus.

The same goes for washing the dishes, leaving the tap running as you wash the dishes will add £25 to your annual bill.

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