AQW 54565/11-16

Mr Andy Allen MBE
Ulster Unionist Party
East Belfast

Tabled Date: 22/02/2016
Answered On Date: 24/02/2016
Priority Written: Yes

Question:
To ask the Minister for Social Development whether he has any plans to (i) increase the qualifying annual household income threshold for the Affordable Warmth Scheme; and (ii) take exceptional circumstances into consideration.

Answer:

The qualification criteria for the Affordable Warmth Scheme were determined following a public consultation on proposals between 17 February and 9 May 2014. In the consultation, it was proposed to set the household income eligibility level for the Affordable Warmth Scheme at £16,190 (free schools meal limit). The findings of the first Affordable Warmth pilot “An Area Based Approach to Finding Households Most in Need” reported that half of the households surveyed had an annual income of less than £12,000 and two thirds of them had an annual income of less than £16,000.

Following responses received from the public consultation my Department decided that the annual household income level should be set at £20,000. In reaching this figure my Department considered the 2012/13 Family Resources Survey which showed that 39% of Northern Ireland households had an income less than £400 per week; meaning that those households severely affected by fuel poverty would be unlikely to have an annual income greater than £20,000.

There is no provision within the Affordable Warmth Scheme to take exceptional circumstances into account. My Department will review the Affordable Warmth Scheme, including the qualification criteria, after one full year of operation to ensure that those households most impacted by fuel poverty continue to be assisted. Work to plan for that review is underway and the results are expected to be available in summer 2016.

The Information provided in this response is governed by the Principles and Protocols of the Code of Practice for Official Statistics. This is enforced by UK Statistics Authority.