To ask the Minister for Communities to detail any engagement he has had with the Minister of Health to progress the changes needed to the Hospital Travel Costs Scheme to enable people on Universal Credit to avail of this support without having to complete the Health Costs Form HC1.

My officials are in regular contact with the relevant Department of Health (DoH) officials on the changes required to the Help with Health Costs Scheme for Universal Credit claimants.

In the meantime, Universal Credit claimants should continue to apply for Help with Health Costs by completing a HC1 application form and forwarding it to the Department for Communities. Further information can be found on nidirect: https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/articles/universal-credit-if-you-have-health-condition-or-disability#toc-8