Water vouchers (PAS)
About PAS
The Water Payment Assistance Scheme (PAS) can help you if you are having difficulty paying your Hunter Water or Sydney Water bill. A range of community welfare organisations distribute $25 vouchers to water consumers in financial hardship.
Before you seek assistance
If you are having trouble paying your bill you should speak to your water company first.
Water suppliers may be able to suggest a payment scheme or arrangement to assist you manage your bills. See help with payment difficulty for an overview of these programs, or contact your water supplier for further information. See also tips for dealing with your supplier.
If you are unable to make arrangements with your supplier, contact a local community agency that distributes PAS water vouchers to make an appointment.
Where can you get water vouchers?
Many community welfare organisations have water vouchers. These include:
- St Vincent de Paul Society
- The Salvation Army
- Anglicare
- The Smith Family
- Some community or neighbourhood centres
If you can't find a PAS agency in your area, contact us for help.
Who can get water vouchers?
Anyone who is in financial hardship can apply for PAS. This may be caused by:
- a loss of income
- a very high water bill
- an illness in the family
- a family crisis
- unexpected expenses or bills
If you can't find a PAS agency in your area, contact us for help.
What about tenants?
Although the landlord is responsible for the water account, in many cases it is a condition of the lease for tenants to pay for the cost of water consumption. If you are responsible for this part of the water bill, you may be eligible for PAS, see water accounts for more.
Access to PAS vouchers for tenants is limited to one voucher per quarter. Because PAS cannot be used to put an account in credit, the landlord should not pay the entire bill in advance if you want to use PAS vouchers. As this is a private arrangement between you and your landlord or real estate agent, speak to them first if you are facing financial difficulty.
For detailed information, contact your water supplier. Further information on your rights and responsibilities as a tenant is available from a tenants' advice service.
How does it work?
| 1. |
In most cases you will need to make an appointment with the agency over the telephone. |
| 2. |
Take your water bill to the appointment and the agency will decide if they can give you some vouchers. |
| 3. |
The agency may also help you arrange a payment plan with your supplier for the remainder of the bill, or provide other assistance such as financial counselling. |
| 4. |
Pay the vouchers on to your account at the post office or other outlet, remembering to bring along a recent bill with the barcode intact. |
| 5. |
If not organised beforehand, call your water supplier to make an arrangement for the remainder of your bill. |
| 6. |
If you are unable to make arrangements to pay the remainder, you can contact us for help. |
