AQW 44094/22-27

Ms Kellie Armstrong
Alliance Party
Strangford

Tabled Date: 16/04/2026
Answered On Date: 01/05/2026
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister for Communities, following the recent introduction of the Baby Loss Certificate Scheme, whether he will (i) review; and (ii) update (a) the Social Fund rules to include a category under Relationship with person who has died for a parent of a baby miscarried before 24 weeks of pregnancy; and (b) the Child Funeral Fund to provide a one-off lump sum payment to cover the expense of a funeral of a child lost through miscarriage before the 24th week of pregnancy.

Answer:

There are no current plans to review or update the Social Fund rules or the Child Funeral Fund to cover the expense of a funeral of a child lost through miscarriage before the 24th week of pregnancy.