AQW 39092/11-15


Ms Claire Sugden
Independent
East Londonderry


Tabled Date: 20/11/2014
Answered On Date: 01/12/2014
Priority Written: No


Question:
To ask the Minister for Social Development to detail the number of people who have (i) applied for; and (ii) been awarded a short term advance of benefit, since April 2013, broken down by constituency.


Answer:
The information requested is not available. Northern Ireland legislation does not currently provide for Short Term Benefit Advances as this is included in the Welfare Reform Bill. However, under the existing Discretionary Social Fund Scheme Crisis Loan alignment payments, which will be replaced by Short Term Benefit Advances, are made to people awaiting their first payment of benefit, which is paid in arrears. Crisis Loan payments made in these circumstances are intended to cover the day to day living expenses until the first benefit payday, following which full payment of benefit can be made. The number of Crisis Loan alignment payments applied for and awarded from April 2013 until 30 June 2014, broken down by constituency is shown in the Table below:
Constituency Area
01/04/2013 – 31/03/2014
01/04/2014 – 30/06/2014 ***
Applications *
Awards *
Applications *
Awards *
Belfast East
470
410
100
90
Belfast North
1640
1450
330
270
Belfast South
550
500
100
90
Belfast West
1,350
1,270
250
220
East Antrim
750
610
140
120
East Londonderry
640
560
170
150
Fermanagh And South Tyrone
320
290
100
80
Foyle
2,890
2,440
290
250
Lagan Valley
310
290
80
70
Mid Ulster
610
520
80
70
Newry And Armagh
610
520
120
100
North Antrim
760
620
140
120
North Down
410
350
70
60
South Antrim
550
470
110
100
South Down
450
390
120
100
Strangford
500
410
120
90
Upper Bann
480
430
80
70
West Tyrone
770
640
40
40
Unknown **
560
500
170
150
Total
14,610
12,660
2600
2220
* Figures rounded to the nearest 10, Total may not sum due to roundings.
** Where it was not possible to allocate Applications/awards to a Constituency they were classified as Unknown.
*** The period ending 30/06/2014 is the most up to date information available.
The information provided is an Official Statistic. The production of all such statistics is governed by the Principles and Protocols of the Code of Practice for Official Statistics. This is enforced by the UK Statistics Authority.