Help with bills for disabled people and carers

Council tax

• Disabled Band Reduction: if your home has an extra room, bathroom, kitchen or space for a wheelchair that a disabled person needs, you're charged one band lower. Band A homes get 17% off (GOV.UK).
• Severe mental impairment: someone with, for example, dementia is ignored for council tax, which can cut the bill to nil.
• Carers: a live-in carer giving at least 35 hours of care a week is ignored, which can give a 25% or 50% discount.

Water

WaterSure caps the bill for metered households on a qualifying benefit who use a lot of water because of a medical condition (GOV.UK). In Wales, see WaterSure Wales (Welsh Water). Every water company also runs a free priority services register (CCW).

Energy

• The Priority Services Register gives free extra help, including for people who rely on powered medical equipment (Ofgem).
• Cold Weather Payment can be paid on some disability-linked benefits (GOV.UK).
• In Scotland, some disability-linked awards qualify for the Warm Home Discount automatically (GOV.UK).

Phone, broadband and TV

• Providers must offer disabled customers priority fault repair, bills in accessible formats and third-party bill management. Priority repair should cost no more than standard repair (Ofcom).
• 195 directory enquiries is free for people with sight loss or a disability that makes printed directories hard to use (BT).
• Relay UK is free, and calls cost no more than a standard call (Ofcom).
• Some social tariffs accept Personal Independence Payment and Attendance Allowance (Ofcom).
• You get 50% off the TV licence if you're registered blind or live with someone who is. The licence must be in their name (GOV.UK).