AQW 48902/22-27 Written question to the Minister of Health
To ask the Minister of Health to detail the number of people in receipt of Universal Credit who have availed of (i) a sight test; (ii) dental treatment; (iii) a hearing test; and (iv) reimbursement of travel to hospital costs, since the Help with Health Costs in Northern Ireland Scheme was introduced on 1 December 2025.
Asked by Kellie Armstrong MLA on 17 June 2026
- Answered
- Written
- Tabled
- 17 June 2026
- Answer due by
- 2 July 2026
- Answered
- 1 July 202614 days after tabling
- Department
- Department of Health
- Priority question
- No
Answer
Ophthalmic and dental information is available up to March 2026, the reference date of the latest published Accredited Official Statistics, and shows that;
(i) 12,905 unique identifiable patients in receipt of Universal Credit have had sight tests since 1st December 2025, and
(ii) 5,945 unique patients in receipt of Universal Credit have had dental treatments completed since 1st December 2025.
(iii) & (iv) my Department does not hold information in relation to hearing tests or travel costs.