AQW 2439/16-21

Ms Michaela Boyle
Sinn Féin
West Tyrone

Tabled Date: 06/09/2016
Answered On Date: 14/09/2016
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister for Communities whether he has any plans to review the qualifying conditions for the Affordable Warmth Scheme.

Answer:

The Affordable Warmth Scheme completed its first full year of operation in March 2016. To qualify for the scheme a household must have an annual gross income of less than £20,000. As part of a broad review of the Affordable Warmth Scheme being undertaken by my Department, officials have engaged with a wide range of stakeholders to seek views on the effectiveness of the scheme. Among other things the review is examining the income threshold level and if, for example, disability benefits should be excluded from the income calculation. I expect the review to come forward with recommendations later in 2016 and any changes I make to the scheme will come into operation from April 2017.