Los Angeles water bill assistance.
Find help with paying your water and sewer bills in Los Angeles from Payment Extensions, Discount Programs, and Payment Plans. Struggling families will often be able to qualify for one or more of these programs. The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) offers low income customers a number of services and resources to assist them with paying their water and sewer bills and to prevent a shut off of their service. Learn about all of the services and assistance programs below.
To avoid interruption of your water service or to get more time to pay your bills, Payment Extensions are available. This is targeted at customers who are unable to pay their bills by their due dates. It is critical that you contact LADWP before the water or sewer bill becomes delinquent. Representatives from the utility provider will work with customers to set up some type of extension if at all possible.
Extensions are also made available to customers who pay 50 percent or more of the balance on their water bills at one of the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power Customer Service Centers. If the individual were to this partial payment then that person will be provided additional time. In general, they will be given up to a two-week payment extension on the remainder of the balance on their bills. All assistance provided is subject to business rules and program regulations, and these conditions will need to be met by applicants.
Receive a 30-40% discount on your residential water bills from the Low Income Discount Program. Qualified low income customers of LADWP can apply for this discount, and the resource is offered to those residents who meet qualifying household income levels. This reduced rate will lower the cost of sewer and water services for your primary home or apartment.
The income levels that need to be met include factoring in the total income of all individuals who live in the household, regardless of the occupant’s age, background, or employment status. Los Angeles families that qualify for the Low Income Discount Program will have their Sewer Service Charge (SSC) reduced by 31% of the first 18 hcf of a 2-month DWP bill or 31% of the first 9 hcf of a 1-month bill.
Seniors and disabled can receive the opportunity for additional discounts from the Lifeline Discount Program. This assistance program applies a reduction to the water and monthly sewer bills of income-qualified customers who at least 62 years of age or older. Also, residents who are permanently disabled and can provide proof of the disability may be able to receive a reduced rate on their account.
Those customers that qualify for the discounted rate from the Lifeline program may have their Solid Resources Fee (SRF) reduced by around 30%. Participants will also need to re-certify for the reduction at least every two years to determine if the discounted rate should continue.
Installment plans and partial payment arrangements can also be administered for customers that are having difficulty in paying an LADWP water or sewer expense. These individuals may arrange to make installment payments on their account over a defined period of time. If you are experiencing a financial hardship or crisis and if you will not be able to pay your entire water bill on time for a certain month, call to learn about and to see if you can enter into a payment arrangements.
Households that have a member who is quadriplegic, paraplegic, hemiplegic, multiple sclerosis patient, neuromuscular patient, or scleroderma patient may be able to qualify for assistance from the Physician Certified Allowance Discount. This resource also offers discounts on the household’s water costs. Verification will be required by a state of California licensed physician that a fulltime member of the household is a being treated for one of those life threatening illnesses.
Other financial help may be provided too. Additional discounts or assistance may be provided to Los Angeles Department of Water and Power customers when a member of the household has a compromised immune system and needs help with paying their water bills to prevent a shut off while in a hardship situation.
Additional water and sewer or wastewater bill discounts are offered as part of the Life-Support Device Discount. Lower rates are provided to LADWP customers who provide satisfactory proof that an immediate member of the household requires the use of an essential life-support device for their health and safety. All requests and cases are reviewed by medical director prior to acceptance.
How to get water bill help in LA
To apply for any of these financial assistance programs, grants, or discounts, call Los Angeles Department of Water and Power at 1-800-342-5397.
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