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Anglian Water Assistance Fund

Anglian Water Assistance Fund

The Anglian Water Assistance Fund (AWAF) has been set up by Anglian Water Services Ltd to support customers in financial hardship. The fund is administered by Charis Grants Ltd on behalf of Anglian Water. The Objectives of the Assistance Fund are:-

To administer a grants programme aimed at reducing water and sewerage debt for customers experiencing poverty and hardship throughout the region.
To make awards that will help people recover from the burden of debt and become financially more stable.
To provide free voluntary Debt Advice to applicants.
To make a long term position difference to applicants.

How can the Fund help?

To be able to apply to the Fund, you must have your sole or main home within the Anglian Water or Hartlepool Water regions and be charged for water and or sewerage by Anglian Water or Hartlepool Water.

How to apply for help

If you would like to apply for help you can download, print and complete an application form. Alternatively you can call us on 01733 421060 to request an application form. You will also need to send us proof of the amount of income you have and where it comes from e.g. wages, benefits, etc.

Please note that as of 1 October 2009 the Fund will only accept applications on the Anglian Water Assistance Fund application form. If you have an old Anglian Water Trust Fund form then please call the number above for a new form.

Please click here for an application form.

If you are asking for help with your water/sewerage charges, we will look to see how much is owed to your water company.

When filling in you application form, please read page 7 carefully to see what information you need to send into us with your completed application. Don't forget to sign the application form in section 12 - if the form is not signed we cannot assess your application.

Sending in your application.

Once you have completed and signed your application, you should send the form and the necessary information about your income, medical condition, etc. to:

Anglian Water Assistance Fund

PO Box 42 Peterborough PE3 8XH

Please check that you have put the correct postage on the envelope. Incorrect postage will result in delays in our receiving and dealing with your application.

If you think you may have difficulty in completing the application form a local advice centre such as a Citizens Advice Bureau may be able to help you fill it in.

FAQs

How will you deal with my application?

When we receive your application, we will send you a letter. This letter will either say:

That you have sent us everything we need and that we are able to assess your application, or
There is something missing or information is unclear. Once you send us the information or explain the situation, we will then begin to assess your application.

Charis Grants will contact Anglian Water so that they can confirm how much you owe. If, whilst we are assessing your application we find more information from you, we will contact you.

How will I know if I have been successful?

If we are able to help you with your water/sewerage charges, a payment will be made directly to the water company. We will write to you to let you know that the payment is being made.If we are unable to help you with either kind of payment, we will write to tell you this.

How often can I apply for help?

If you receive an award from the Fund, you cannot re-apply to the Fund for two years.If you do not receive an award from the Fund, you can re-apply after six months.

Can I find out why my application was unsuccessful?

We regret that the Fund cannot disclose to applicants why applications are unsuccessful.However, the following may give you some guidance on why we are unable to help everyone.

The Fund does not have enough money to help everyone who applies

Each week, the Fund gets asked for much more money than it has available.This means that we cannot help everyone and Fund staff have to make very difficult decisions about who they can help. They prioritise helping applicants where there is evidence that a one off award will make a difference and help the applicant towards being financially stable.

The Fund needs to be sure how the debts came about

Where applicants are looking for help with water/sewerage charges, the Fund will always look for a full explanation of how the arrears have arisen.

Sometimes applicants do not fully explain how the arrears have come about. It is difficult for the Fund to consider making a payment if it cannot see how the arrears have arisen.