AQW 4133/17-22

Ms Kellie Armstrong
Alliance Party
Strangford

Tabled Date: 15/05/2020
Answered On Date: 20/07/2020
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister for Communities, in relation to her statement of 13 May 2020 on the suspension of recovery of benefit overpayments and loans, whether repayment terms will be renegotiated with customers; and whether the repayment term can be extended and spread over at least 12 months to help people financially recover from the COVID-19 crisis.

Answer:

The suspension of recovery of benefit overpayments and loans will go some way to easing the financial difficulty that many people find themselves in during this period of uncertainty.

Repayments will be restarted at the rate which was in place at the time of cessation, however in line with normal arrangements people are able to contact the department at any time to discuss alternative payment arrangements or rates of repayment, if they are experiencing hardship. We will be taking a range of steps to ensure people are aware that they can contact the department if they are experiencing any difficulties with repayment rates We will also be publishing this information and guidance on NI Direct and on the Department for Communities website.

For the majority of people repaying loans and overpayments to the departments, the repayment period already extends well beyond 12 months.