AQW 51478/22-27

Miss Nuala McAllister
Alliance Party
North Belfast

Tabled Date: 09/09/2026
Answered On Date: 14/09/2026
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister for Communities whether the capital limit for Universal Credit can be waived on discretionary grounds.

Answer:

Where capital exceeds £16,000 a claimant will not be entitled to Universal Credit. Departmental decision makers have no discretion to waive this limit.

Legislation does provide for prescribed capital disregards in specified circumstances. However, these disregards are not applied on a discretionary basis.