Eastbourne: get extra help this winter from South East Water

Eastbourne residents in financial difficulties or with medical conditions or restricted mobility can get extra help this winter from their water company.
Watch more of our videos on Shots! 
and live on Freeview channel 276
Visit Shots! now

South East Water, which serves 2.2 million customers across parts of Kent, Sussex, Surrey, Hampshire and Berkshire, is urging people to sign up to its Priority Services Register to make sure they get the correct support during the cold months.

Its register offers vulnerable customers, including older people, those living with dementia and parents with children under the age of five, the chance to receive extra assistance.

The range of special tariffs also includes help for customers with specific medical conditions, restricted mobility, additional needs, sight and hearing impairment who may need some extra support, such as bottled water hand-delivered to their homes during a water supply emergency.

South East Water is working closely with community groups, charities and unpaid carers to get the message out before the winter weather really hitsSouth East Water is working closely with community groups, charities and unpaid carers to get the message out before the winter weather really hits
South East Water is working closely with community groups, charities and unpaid carers to get the message out before the winter weather really hits

South East Water is working closely with community groups, charities and unpaid carers to get the message out before the winter weather really hits.

“The help is here for people including those who are finding themselves in very different circumstances and who are having to shield to protect themselves against the virus,” said Jane Crisp, vulnerability strategy manager.

“We are also trying to reach the large army of unpaid carers across the south east region who are looking after critically ill people to get them to register for this special service as I know that water delivered directly to their door during a water incident will take some pressure off during a difficult time.”

Financial help available includes:

South East Water's register offers vulnerable customers, including older people, those living with dementia and parents with children under the age of five, the chance to receive extra assistanceSouth East Water's register offers vulnerable customers, including older people, those living with dementia and parents with children under the age of five, the chance to receive extra assistance
South East Water's register offers vulnerable customers, including older people, those living with dementia and parents with children under the age of five, the chance to receive extra assistance

- Social Tariff for customers with a household income of less than £16,105 (excluding any disability payments). This tariff caps water charges to a discounted rate, with customers saving about 30 per cent of their annual water and waste water charges on average

- WaterSure puts a cap on metered water charges: to qualify, customers must be supplied by a water meter, in receipt of a qualifying benefit or have a medical condition that requires additional usage

- Helping Hand scheme funded by South East Water which offers financial assistance to clear water and waste water debt

- Water Direct help for customers on qualifying benefits with money taken direct

- Short-term payment support options to help people manage their water bill, including payment breaks.

To sign up for the Priority Services Register go to www.southeastwater.co.uk/priority, ring 0800 952 4000 or email [email protected].

People struggling financially to pay water bills can find help at www.southeastwater.co.uk/helptopay

South East Water is also giving away on its website free winter water-saving kits to help customers save water and money on their energy bills during the colder weather. The freebie kits include pipe lagging and garden tap guards to help prevent the misery of a pipe bursting in freezing weather.

A list of qualified plumbers can be found at watersafe.org.uk or by calling call 0333 207 9030