Are you overdue on your water bill in California? This program can credit up to $2,000
New guidelines were released in early April for a federally funded program meant to help low income families pay their outstanding water bills.
The Low Income Household Water Assistance Program is part of an emergency effort to respond to the economic impacts caused by the coronavirus pandemic.
In California, the Department of Community Services and Development is the designated agency responsible for overseeing the program. The finalized state plan defines the scope of the program and how it will be implemented.
Purpose of the program
The state plan was introduced in order to help families pay off unpaid water bills that were accumulated before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. According to the guidelines document, COVID-related wastewater arrearages — or bills that are overdue — across the state are estimated to total several hundred million dollars.
Californians face some of the highest living costs compared to other states in the country, and some low-income households, who have also taken a financial toll from the pandemic, struggle with paying for basic necessities like water.
The goal of LIHWAP is to reduce arrearages owed by low-income households and ensure they have access to safe drinking water and wastewater services. Around half a million Californians experienced water shutoffs in 2019, according to data collected by the State Water Resources Control Board.
Who is eligible for LIHWAP?
Payments issued by LIHWAP will help households on a “first-come, first-served basis” and can be applied to residential water and wastewater services.
In order for individuals to benefit from the program, eligible households must use community water systems or other billing entities that are enrolled to receive LIHWAP payments. These companies directly receive the allocated assistance benefits and will determine which individuals and households are eligible for the payment using state and federal guidance.
Households with private water wells and septic tanks are not eligible for assistance.
Eligible households include those that make below 60% of the state median income. For households of one, this threshold is $2,564.73 per month, and for households of four, $4,932.17 per month, according to a table from the CSD website that tabulates income thresholds.
In addition, households with members who are recipients of CalFresh or CalWORKs may also qualify for the benefit. Other households that qualify for the benefit include those with a past due amount on a water or wastewater bill.
“Eligibility for LIHWAP services can vary depending on income, household size, place of residence, and other factors,” the website says.
How do I enroll?
The application for water and wastewater systems to receive LIHWAP payment assistance for financially challenged customers opened April 1. The interest form is available online.
For individuals wanting to receive financial relief, the customer application portal has not opened just yet. Local service providers will be reviewing which households are eligible for the one-time benefit as early as May, and no later than June 2022. This form will also be available on the CSD website.
Necessary documents for the application include proof of income from all household members, a copy of government-issued identification and a copy of water bills indicating overdue balances.
For households in which water utilities are included in rent, two documents are required: a copy of a signed landlord agreement confirming this is the case and a copy of the water utility bill for services provided to the apartment or other rental unit.
If assistance is granted, households can receive a one-time payment applied to their account of up to $2,000 on either water or wastewater service bills, or both if the water bill includes statements for both services.