AQO 421/17-22

Mr Andrew Muir
Alliance Party
North Down

Tabled Date: 12/03/2020
Answered On Date: 27/03/2020
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister for Communities whether regulation 25 of the Universal Credit, Personal Independence Payment, Job Seeker's Allowance and Employment Support Allowance (Claims and Payments) Regulations (NI) 2016 is being applied by her Department.

Answer:

Answer

Regulation 25 of the Universal Credit, Personal Independence Payment, Jobseeker’s Allowance and Employment and Support Allowance (Claims and Payment) Regulations (NI) 2016 allows the Department to backdate a claim for Universal Credit for up to one month in a limited number of circumstances. This is to protect the most vulnerable who may be delayed in claiming through no fault of their own.

Once an application is made and it is accepted that the provisions of this Regulation apply, backdating is always granted. Accordingly, my Department is fully aware of this provision, already applies it and will continue to do so as appropriate.