AQW 156/16-21


Mr Andy Allen MBE
Ulster Unionist Party
East Belfast


Tabled Date: 27/05/2016
Answered On Date: 13/06/2016
Priority Written: No


Question:
To ask the Minister for Communities when Welfare Reform will be introduced; and what advice is available for new and existing claimants.


Answer:
Welfare Reform will gradually be introduced in Northern Ireland over the next 3 years with the first set of welfare changes having commenced in May 2016.
Changes to how a claimant disputes a social security benefit decision were introduced on 23 May 2016 and the Benefit Cap at a £26,000 level came into effect on 31 May 2016.
Personal Independence Payment will be introduced on 20 June 2016 and will replace Disability Living Allowance for people aged 16 to 64 years. It will be introduced for new claims on 20 June 2016. If someone on Disability Living Allowance reports a change to their mobility or care needs on or after the 20 June 2016, they will also be assessed for Personal Independence Payment rather than Disability Living Allowance.
As part of the Fresh Start Agreement, the Northern Ireland Executive agreed to fund the recommendations of the Evason Report to mitigate the impact of Welfare Reform. These recommendations included a series of supplementary welfare payments to mitigate the most harmful impacts of the welfare changes. My Department has put in place the legislation and operational systems to make payments for claimants impacted by the Benefit Cap and is currently putting in place similar arrangements to support claimants impacted by the introduction of Personal Independent Payment.
The Working Group Report also recommended that additional independent advice services should be put in place to help and support customers through the welfare changes. The Executive made a commitment to provide £8m funding over 4 years to provide the additional services and my Department are currently finalising arrangements with the regional advice organisations to have those additional services in place by August 2015
The Advice organisations are planning to have a dedicated contact centre to provide help and advice over the phone but with the facility to refer claimants for face to face assistance if necessary. The services will also be underpinned by access to specialist advice organisations.