To ask the Minister for Communities to detail the steps his Department is taking to ensure that vulnerable adults without family support are provided with appropriate decision-making assistance.

There are processes in place for Personal Independence Payment (PIP), Disability Living Allowance and Attendance Allowance to ensure that those who require support are assisted. These include: the opportunity to have an appointee or representative to assist with the day-to-day management of claims, and for PIP, the opportunity to be accompanied when undergoing a functional assessment.

Where a customer requires additional support, a marker is set on the PIP computer system to ensure that applications are progressed to Capita for assessment where a customer fails to return a claim form to ensure that the customer is not disadvantaged.

In addition, all Universal Credit and disability benefit customers who require advice or support with form completion are signposted to the Department’s Make the Call service and to the independent support provided by Advice NI.

All benefit delivery staff have access to the Department’s advanced customer support guidance which is designed to equip staff to both identify vulnerable customers and those with complex needs and to better support them to access services.

Services funded through the Supporting People Programme conduct needs and risk assessments, to ensure individuals receive the right level of decision-making assistance and support tailored to their needs.

Additionally, support extends to assistance in engaging with professionals and external organisations, ensuring individuals can navigate services effectively. Where needed, individuals can also be signposted to specialist advocacy services for assistance with complex decision-making.

My Department invests around £6.6m annually in independent, community-based advice services which are free at the point of contact. This includes regulated debt advice and support for people impacted by Welfare changes.