AQW 5767/16-21

Mrs Naomi Long
Alliance Party
East Belfast

Tabled Date: 19/10/2016
Answered On Date: 24/10/2016
Priority Written: Yes

Question:
To ask the Minister for Communities to confirm that households with children, affected by the Benefit Cap of 31st May 2016, and currently in receipt of a supplementary payment, will receive an increased supplementary payment if their Housing Benefit is reduced further by the lower Benefit Cap, planned to be introduced on 7 November 2016.

Answer:

I can confirm the Department will make provision to increase the welfare supplementary payment to mitigate the impact of a reduction in the benefit cap planned to be introduced from 7 November 2016. Households with children currently receiving a welfare supplementary payment will receive an increase if they continue to meet the conditions for eligibility.