AQW 18815/17-22

Ms Kellie Armstrong
Alliance Party
Strangford

Tabled Date: 13/05/2021
Answered On Date: 18/06/2021
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister for Communities, given the number of appellants waiting more than 52 weeks for an appeal to be heard, whether she will extend supplementary payment to 24 months for those appealing a reduced Personal Independence Payment award.

Answer:

Several of the existing welfare mitigation payment schemes include a maximum entitlement period of 12 months. This is in accordance with the recommendations of the Welfare Reform Mitigations Working Group.

The twelve month limit applies to payments for people who are affected by:

A loss of entitlement to carer’s benefits

A loss of a disability premium(s)

The time limiting of contribution-based Employment and Support Allowance

An award of Personal Independence Payment at a rate of at least £10 per week less than the previous award of Disability Living Allowance.

The Welfare Mitigation schemes were due to end on 31 March 2020 however the Executive committed to extending the current schemes beyond this date in the New Decade, New Approach Deal. The extension of the existing welfare mitigation schemes ensures that people continue to receive mitigation payments if they are eligible under the current policy. However, the extension does not provide for the maximum period of entitlement of 12 months to be extended. There are currently no plans to change this policy for any of the affected mitigation schemes