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Watersure

Asked by Dan AldridgeLabourDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled Answered 17 July 2026UIN 18276

The question

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether she will review the eligibility criteria for the WaterSure scheme to ensure that households with a medically certified need to use more water are eligible for support regardless of whether they receive qualifying means-tested benefits.

Answered by Emma Hardy

The Government has committed to reform the WaterSure scheme, including eligibility criteria. These reforms were consulted on July to September 2025. The changes to the scheme will expand eligibility to include households in receipt of non-means-tested disability benefits – meaning a further 53,000 low-income households with a medical need of high-water use are expected to save around £325 per year. Government intends to implement these reforms in early 2027, subject to parliamentary processes. The Government response to the consultation can be found on GOV.UK.

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