More than 6,500 Barnsley households have been automatically added to water bill reduction schemes through a partnership between Barnsley Council and Yorkshire Water. The households are expected to save over £1.4 million over the next year.
The council identified low-income families eligible for support by sharing data on Council Tax support claimants with Yorkshire Water. Eligible households were added to the schemes without needing to apply themselves.
How many households are affected?
Based on the data sharing arrangement, 6,537 households have now been added to a water bill reduction scheme. A further 3,037 households were already benefitting from one of Yorkshire Water's bill reduction schemes.
The average savings mean the 6,537 newly supported households are expected to save more than £1.4 million in total over the next year.
What the council said
Cllr Martin Bancroft, Cabinet Spokesperson for Core Services, said: "I'd like to thank the council's Council Tax and Benefits team and Yorkshire Water for working together to put more money back into people's pockets. This work means thousands of residents are now getting help they might otherwise have missed. It's a brilliant example of organisations working together to make a real difference."
Angie Nock, Affordability and Vulnerability Strategy Manager at Yorkshire Water, said: "We have a wide range of options for people who are struggling financially, and this partnership is a shining example of how much organisations can help people when they come together with a clear purpose. We urge anyone who is struggling financially, and feel they can't afford their water bills, to contact us."
How to find out if you qualify
Anyone struggling financially with water bills can find out more at barnsley.gov.uk/more-money-in-your-pocket or contact Yorkshire Water directly.