Know
Your Rights : Household Benefits Package and water charges
Question
I live alone
and get a State Pension. Will I be able to get any help with the new water
charges?
Answer
Domestic water charges will apply from 1 October
2014 and the first bills will issue from January 2015. A free allowance of a
certain amount of water will be provided for every household, with extra
allowances for children. If you are getting the Household Benefits Package, you
will also get help with the cost of water charges.
From January 2015 the Household Benefits Package
will include a new annual Water Support payment of €100 (made up of four equal
payments of €25). The Water Support payment will be paid to everyone who
qualifies for the Household Benefits Package. This includes people who are not
customers of Irish Water and who either have their own water supply or are
members of a group scheme.
If you are currently getting the Household Benefits Package
and get your allowance as a credit on your bill, the Department of Social
Protection (DSP) does not hold payment details for you. In September 2014 the DSP contacted customers to ask
them to complete a form with their bank account information so the Water Support payment can be paid directly.
The Water Support payment can also be paid in post offices.
The Water Support payment will be paid directly to
you, not to Irish Water. If your home is connected to a public water supply (or
to public wastewater services) you will need to set up an account with Irish
Water to pay your water charges and to claim the free household allowance.
Irish Water has sent customer application packs to all households, to be
returned by 31 October 2014.
Further information is available
from the Citizens Information Centre below.
Know Your Rights has been compiled by Dungloe Citizens Information
Service which provides a free and confidential service to the public.
Tel: 0761075431 Address: Dungloe
Public Services Centre, Gweedore
Road
Information is also available online at citizensinformation.ie and from
the Citizens Information Phone Service, 0761 07 4000.