If you live in Bellevue, Washington and your water bill is putting a strain on your budget, the city has several programs that can help. Some are ongoing discounts for people who qualify long term. Others are quick help for a one-time crisis. Let’s go through what’s available and how to get it.
What Is Bellevue Utility Bill Assistance?
Bellevue Utilities offers a handful of different programs to help low income residents keep their water, wastewater, and storm water services affordable. Depending on your situation, you might qualify for an ongoing discount, a once-a-year rebate, or short-term emergency help.
There are two main categories:
- Long-term assistance, for people who are low income and 62 or older, low income with a permanent disability, or receiving in-home dialysis
- Short-term assistance, for anyone facing a temporary financial hardship or a past-due bill, even if you don’t qualify for the long-term programs
How Much Can I Get?
The amount depends on which program fits your situation.
Long-term programs:
- If Bellevue Utilities bills you directly, you can get a 70% discount on your basic utility costs, ongoing each year you qualify
- If you live in an apartment or condo and your water bill comes through a third party rather than directly from the city, you can apply for a 70% rebate on the prior year’s basic utility costs
- A separate tax rebate is also available for both directly and indirectly billed low income residents
Short-term programs:
- The Emergency Assistance Program gives you a 100% reduction on your basic utility service charges for 4 months. You can use this once every 3 years.
- The Neighbors Helping Neighbors program gives you a 100% reduction on your basic utility charges for 2 months. You can use this once every year.
Who Is Eligible?
For long-term assistance, you need to meet one of these:
- You’re low income and age 62 or older
- You’re low income and have a permanent disability, and you receive benefits from a government program like Social Security or the VA
- You receive in-home dialysis and are billed directly by Bellevue Utilities
If you qualify under both the age and disability categories, apply under disability so all your benefits get considered together.
For short-term assistance, you’ll need:
- A Bellevue Utilities account number
- To meet the program’s low income requirements
- For Emergency Assistance: a recent, unexpected event or expense that’s thrown off your finances, sometimes called a “financial shock”
- For Neighbors Helping Neighbors: a past-due Bellevue Utilities bill
Income limits are based on your household size. As of 2026, a single person qualifies with an annual income under $55,000, and the limit goes up from there with each additional household member, reaching $91,150 for a household of six. Because these numbers are updated periodically, it’s worth confirming the current limits directly with Bellevue Utilities when you apply.
When it comes to figuring out your household size, kids under 18 count toward your household but their income doesn’t count against you. Live-in caregivers don’t count toward your household at all. Renters in your home don’t count toward your household size or income, but any rental income you receive does need to be reported.
How Do I Apply?
You can apply online, but you’ll need an email address to do so. If you don’t have one, you can request a paper application by calling (425) 452-5285, or visit in person at Bellevue City Hall or the Bellevue Mini City Hall at Crossroads Mall.
Long-term assistance applications are processed in the order they’re received and can take up to 11 weeks. If you’re a directly billed customer, any late fees charged while your application is processing will be refunded, and if you’re approved, your benefit is applied retroactively back to February 2026.
Keep in mind that long-term assistance isn’t automatic year after year. You have to reapply every year, though renewal applications are only mailed out every other year after your first time applying.
Relief Recap
Water is essential, and no one should have to choose between paying their utility bill and covering rent or groceries. If you live in Bellevue and money is tight, check out our Washington area page for more programs that might help you keep your household running, or our LIHEAP guide for help with your energy bills too.
