To ask the Minister for Communities for his assessment of how the budget delivered on 6 March 2024 will directly benefit people in Northern Ireland on benefits.

My officials have completed an initial assessment of the Spring Budget 2024 and concluded that there are no announcements that will directly benefit people in Northern Ireland who are claiming benefits delivered by the Department for Communities.

It was announced that the repayment period on budgeting advance loans taken out by claimants on Universal Credit will increase from 12 months to 24 months. This change may be beneficial for some people depending on their personal circumstances and will apply to new budgeting Advances taken out from December 2024.

It is anticipated that the change will apply in Northern Ireland.