AQW 36051/22-27

Ms Kellie Armstrong
Alliance Party
Strangford

Tabled Date: 21/11/2025
Answered On Date: 08/12/2025
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister of Health to detail any evidence a claimant on Universal Credit will be required to produce to access financial support for a service listed in the Help with Health Costs Scheme from 1 December 2025.

Answer:

Universal Credit claimants that fall within the thresholds for automatic passporting to the Help with Health Costs scheme will be advised that they can show their UC award notice or their UC statement, either a hard copy or digital format on their phone or device as proof of entitlement to help with health costs.

The delivery of the Help with Health Costs scheme rests with the Department for Communities and my officials, policy and operational, have worked closely with the Department for Communities to ensure that relevant operational processes in addition to external and internal guidance are updated to facilitate a smooth rollout of the new policy.