Program
Philadelphia Water Tiered Assistance Program (TAP)
Verified · October 23, 2026 Deadline soon — check dates
The Tiered Assistance Program (TAP) helps eligible Philadelphia water customers pay an affordable monthly bill that is fixed by income, not by water usage, so the bill stays the same each month. TAP starts erasing eligible debt as soon as you pay your first bill: each TAP payment forgives 1/24 of your pre-TAP debt, and after 24 full TAP payments the entire pre-TAP debt, including principal and penalties, is forgiven. One application covers TAP, Special Hardship, and the Senior Citizen Discount, and the City enrolls you in the program that gives you the lowest bill.
- Organization
- Philadelphia Water Department / Water Revenue Bureau
- Who qualifies
- Philadelphia Water Department customers having trouble paying their water bill who are low income, seniors, or having a special hardship. Standard TAP eligibility is household income at or below 150% of the Federal Poverty Level. Households above that limit may still qualify through Special Hardship for listed circumstances in the past 12 months, including a household that grew, job loss, serious illness, death of the primary wage earner, domestic violence, or high household expenses.
- Income limits
- Standard limit: household income at or below 150% of the Federal Poverty Level (2026 monthly maxima: 1 person $1,995; 4 people $4,125). Tier caps on the fixed monthly bill (City TAP reporting): 2.0% of monthly income below 50% FPL, 2.5% at 50-100% FPL, and 3.0% at 100-150% FPL. Special Hardship households at 150-250% FPL may pay about 4% of household income.
- Documents needed
- Proof of residency dated in the last 12 months (such as a government photo ID showing your address, a utility bill, voter registration card, pay stub or tax record, bank statement, student loan bill, lease or rent receipt, or government award or benefit letter); name and date of birth for every person in the household; and proof of monthly income for every source of income for all household members (such as a prior-year federal tax return, a pay stub, or a benefit award letter). Special Hardship claims need added documentation for the hardship, such as a termination letter or unemployment printout for job loss, hospital records for serious illness, a death certificate, or documentation for domestic violence.
- How to apply
- Apply with the single Customer Assistance Application online, by mail, or with in-person help at a partner location. To have an application mailed to you, call (215) 685-6300; completed mail applications go to Water Revenue Bureau, Customer Assistance Application Processing Center, P.O. Box 51270, Philadelphia, PA 19115. For help finding a partner location, call 855-827-8373. Application questions can be emailed to watercap@phila.gov, but application materials cannot be submitted over email.
- Last verified
- October 23, 2026
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