AQW 28803/17-22

Ms Kellie Armstrong
Alliance Party
Strangford

Tabled Date: 27/01/2022
Answered On Date: 02/03/2022
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister for Communities whether she plans to update the Local Housing Allowance to ensure that people who are private rental tenants are not penalised for having underused bedrooms, in the same way as social housing tenants are supported through the Social Sector Size Criteria mitigations.

Answer:

I recently appointed an independent panel to take forward a review of welfare mitigation measures. As part of this review the panel have been tasked with identifying the need for a future mitigation package and making recommendations for consideration.

I expect the independent panel to consider a wide range of possible new mitigation measures including support for people affected by the Local Housing Allowance.