AQW 27876/17-22 Written question to the Minister for Communities
To ask the Minister for Communities how many new applicants to Universal Credit, between 1 April 2020 and 31 December 2021, who were not covered by the mitigation period as set out in The Welfare Reform (NI) Order 2015, are subject to the social sector size criteria and have had deductions taken from their housing benefit.
Asked by Kellie Armstrong MLA on 12 January 2022
- Answered
- Written
- After due date
- Priority
- Tabled
- 12 January 2022
- Answer due by
- 17 January 2022
- Answered
- 19 January 20227 days after tabling
- Department
- Department for Communities
- Priority question
- Yes
Answer
No new applicants to Universal Credit, between 1 April 2020 and 31 December 2021, would have been subject to the Social Sector Size Criteria or had deductions taken from their Housing Benefit.
Housing Benefit is only paid alongside Universal Credit in cases where the customer is in specified accommodation, previously known as supported ‘exempt’ accommodation. Social Sector Size Criteria does not affect those living in specified accommodation so no deduction would be made to their Housing Benefit.