AQW 27876/17-22

Ms Kellie Armstrong
Alliance Party
Strangford

Tabled Date: 12/01/2022
Answered On Date: 19/01/2022
Priority Written: Yes

Question:
To ask the Minister for Communities how many new applicants to Universal Credit, between 1 April 2020 and 31 December 2021, who were not covered by the mitigation period as set out in The Welfare Reform (NI) Order 2015, are subject to the social sector size criteria and have had deductions taken from their housing benefit.

Answer:

No new applicants to Universal Credit, between 1 April 2020 and 31 December 2021, would have been subject to the Social Sector Size Criteria or had deductions taken from their Housing Benefit.

Housing Benefit is only paid alongside Universal Credit in cases where the customer is in specified accommodation, previously known as supported ‘exempt’ accommodation. Social Sector Size Criteria does not affect those living in specified accommodation so no deduction would be made to their Housing Benefit.