Welfare Supplementary Payments (Amendment) Bill - screening
Date published:
The Welfare Reform (Northern Ireland) Order 2015 contained powers to amend how Housing Benefit is calculated based on a claimants need rather than the size of property they occupy. Accordingly the Housing Benefit (Amendment No. 2) Regulations (NI) 2016, brought through Westminster by the Department for Work and Pensions amended the Housing Benefit (NI) Regulations 2006, to introduce a size criteria into the calculation of Housing Benefit for working age tenants in the social rented sector.
Corresponding provisions for Universal Credit are included in the Universal Credit Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2016. As a result, claimants who are assessed as under occupying will see a reduction in their Housing Benefit or Universal Credit housing element calculated as follows:
- 14% of the total eligible rent for under-occupation by one bedroom; and
- 25% of the total eligible rent for under occupation by two or more bedrooms.
Exisiting/Revised/New: Revised
Date of Screening: 14/12/2021
Screening Outcome - Full EQIA recommended: No