AQW 23599/17-22

Ms Claire Sugden
Independent
East Londonderry

Tabled Date: 04/10/2021
Answered On Date: 16/11/2021
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister for Communities (i) to detail the increase in the number of people living in poverty that will result from the £20-per-week reduction in Universal Credit; and for her assessment of how this decrease in Universal Credit will affect poverty levels in the long-term.

Answer:

There are currently 103,550 households in payment, meaning that the £20 uplift provided just over £2.07m additional money each week (just under £108m per year) to people currently claiming Universal Credit.

This uplift provided critical financial support for many households and its removal will mean that they will continue to suffer the acute financial pressures and impacts of job losses and increased debt as a result of the pandemic.