AQW 35336/22-27

Ms Kellie Armstrong
Alliance Party
Strangford

Tabled Date: 12/11/2025
Answered On Date: 08/01/2026
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister for Communities to detail (i) any processes that have been put in place by his Department to confirm which Universal Credit claimants are eligible for the Help with Health Costs scheme, once passporting is introduced from 1 December 2025; and (ii) the form that claimants, who are in receipt of Universal Credit, but are under the threshold for automatic passporting, should use to apply for the low income scheme.

Answer:

Over 195,000 claimants who are not declaring earned income or are under certain earned income thresholds will be automatically passported to help with health care costs and will no longer need to complete an application for Help with Health Costs. Their eligibility for help can be confirmed via their Universal Credit statement.

Claimants who are under the earned income threshold for automatic passporting will not be required to complete any forms. Those who are above the earned income thresholds and require Help with Health Costs can continue to apply for support through the Low-income Scheme by completing form HC1 'Claim for help with health and travel costs'.