AQW 48259/11-16

Mrs Jo-Anne Dobson
Ulster Unionist Party
Upper Bann

Tabled Date: 01/09/2015
Answered On Date: 08/09/2015
Priority Written: Yes

Question:
To ask the Minister for Social Development when changes to housing benefit award notifications will be implemented to improve and simplify letters received by recipients, especially elderly residents; and whether these amendments will require legislative change.

Answer:

The Housing Executive has advised that they consulted with tenant groups in both the social and private rented sectors and with voluntary agencies on the format for new simplified notifications. They are now in the final stages of production testing the new letters and plan to have them in operation later this month.

The Housing Executive further advised that there is no need for legislative change in relation to the new Housing Benefit notification letters.