Water charges
7.—(1) Subject to sub-paragraph (2) and paragraph 8, where a beneficiary or his partner is liable, whether directly or indirectly, for water charges and is in debt for those charges to an amount not less than half the annual charge the adjudicating authority may determine that a weekly amount of the specified benefit shall be paid to the water undertaker to whom that debt is owed (or to the person or body authorised to collect water charges for that undertaker).
(2) This paragraph does not apply in a case where water charges are paid with rent.
(3) The weekly amount to be paid in accordance with sub-paragraph (1) shall be the aggregate of–
(a)in respect of the debt an amount equal to 5 per cent. of the personal allowance for a single claimant aged not less than 25 years (that 5 per cent. being, where it is not a multiple of 5 pence, rounded to the next higher such multiple); and
(b)an amount equal to the weekly cost necessary to meet the continuing need for water charges.
(4) In this paragraph “water undertaker” has the same meaning as “statutory water undertaker” has in section 11(6) of the Water Act 1973(1) or, in Scotland, the meaning that “water authority” has in section 3 of the Water (Scotland) Act 1980(2).