Thousands of households across Barking and Dagenham are receiving support with the cost of living thanks to a partnership between Barking and Dagenham Council and Essex and Suffolk Water, which has already delivered more than £1.4 million in water bill discounts for local residents.

Working with Essex and Suffolk Water, the council has been identifying residents eligible for water social tariffs and helping ensure they receive discounts on their water bills. The initiative first began in 2022, focusing on pensioners living in council homes, and has since expanded significantly.

The council has been able to identify residents who may qualify for support and connect them with the relevant tariff schemes. This year the project has expanded borough-wide to include more residents known to the council through welfare assistance services.

In the past year alone, residents have received £641,000 in water bill discounts, with provisional figures suggesting around 5,500 households could benefit in the coming year.

For council tenants who pay their water charges through their rent accounts, the discounts are applied directly to reduce their rent balance. Private tenants and other residents who qualify receive the discount applied directly to their water bills.

Residents who believe they may be eligible can apply directly for social tariff support through their water provider. However, for council tenants who pay water through their rent account, the council applies for the discount on their behalf and administers the support automatically.

Councillor Saima Ashraf, Cabinet Member for Community Leadership and Engagement, said: “Helping residents with the rising cost of living is a top priority for us. By working closely with Essex and Suffolk Water and making better use of data, we’ve been able to ensure that thousands of households receive the support they are entitled to.

“This partnership has already helped deliver more than £1.4 million in water bill discounts for local residents, putting money back into people’s pockets at a time when many households need it most. We will continue to do everything we can to connect residents with the help and financial support available to them.”

The council will continue working with partners to identify more residents who may qualify for support and ensure as many households as possible benefit from the available discounts.