AQW 35216/22-27

Ms Kellie Armstrong
Alliance Party
Strangford

Tabled Date: 11/11/2025
Answered On Date: 08/01/2026
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister for Communities to detail whether they will promote the changes to Help with Health costs for claimants of Universal Credit, coming into effect on 1 December 2025, through the online portal to ensure all are aware they can access help towards dental treatment, eye sight tests, glasses or contact lenses, and travel costs for health and social care treatment.

Answer:

My Department will promote the changes to the Help with Health Costs scheme by issuing a notification to every existing Universal Credit claimant. In addition we are amending the Universal Credit journal welcome message, providing signposting in our 35 Jobs and Benefits offices and via telephone, and reflecting the changes on nidirect, a key source of information for Universal Credit claimants. Finally, we are updating external products such as the leaflets and posters distributed to opticians and dental practices.