AQW 23599/17-22 Written question to the Minister for Communities

To ask the Minister for Communities (i) to detail the increase in the number of people living in poverty that will result from the £20-per-week reduction in Universal Credit; and for her assessment of how this decrease in Universal Credit will affect poverty levels in the long-term.

Asked by Claire Sugden MLA on 4 October 2021

  • Answered
  • Written
  • After due date
Tabled
4 October 2021
Answer due by
19 October 2021
Answered
16 November 202143 days after tabling
Department
Department for Communities
Priority question
No

Answer

There are currently 103,550 households in payment, meaning that the £20 uplift provided just over £2.07m additional money each week (just under £108m per year) to people currently claiming Universal Credit.

This uplift provided critical financial support for many households and its removal will mean that they will continue to suffer the acute financial pressures and impacts of job losses and increased debt as a result of the pandemic.

Official sources