Ms A Clarke: The discretionary support payment money is different, because it is Northern Ireland Executive money. The Department for Communities ( 1) in exercise of the powers conferred by Articles 135 & 136 (5) of the Welfare Reform (Northern Ireland) Order 2015 ( 2 )makes the following Regulations. Citation and commencement 2. Discretionary Support is designed to support people who live in Northern Ireland and are in need of short-term financial help. Extra Financial Support. There are certain legislative requirements which need to be satisfied for Discretionary Support which include: you must be over 18 years old or a minimum of 16 years old if you do not have any parental support. As the Department for Communities is obliged to review the scheme within a year of its commencement, Law Centre NI makes a number of recommendations designed to improve transparency and effectiveness of the scheme. Discretionary Support Housing Rights This course will look at sources of financial assistance for clients who are struggling to meet their financial burdens. However, I take your point. Departmental officials confirmed to the Committee for the Communities it would be surrendering £2m which was unspent on the Covid-19 Discretionary Support Scheme. This includes the Discretionary Support self-isolation grant, which is a non-repayable grant available to households in an extreme, exceptional or crisis situation due to the need to self-isolate in line with current public health guidelines. A social security claimant who is subject to a benefit overpayment may, in exceptional circumstances, apply for a discretionary waiver. This is particularly the case for low-income . Did you know that you can request and track a repair on the My Housing Executive portal. To contact: Use the online form 0800-587-2750 Apply online for a Discretionary Housing Payment The Welfare Reform Project Team have advised LANI that they now have both Discretionary Housing Payment application forms online.This enables […] All claimants have the right to ask for a review from the Finance Support Service. The Finance Support Service provides support to anyone living in Northern Ireland that needs short-term financial help. Discretionary Support is also available to full-time students who are suffering financial difficulties as a direct result of COVID-19. These Regulations, which are made under articles 135 & 136 (5) of the Welfare Reform (Northern Ireland) Order 2015, provide for the establishment of a discretionary support fund to be administered by the Department, to provide emergency loans and grants to claimants who find themselves in extreme, exceptional or crisis circumstances which present a significant risk to the health, safety or . Date of claim 6. More details are available in the Finance Support section of NI Direct. RT= not an endorsement. If you applied for Discretionary Support and are unhappy with the outcome, you can ask the Department for Communities to review this decision. The Department for Communities' (DfC) Finance Support Project has developed a new online application form for Discretionary Support. Register now. It aims to address customer needs in an. The Department for Communities ( 1) in exercise of the powers conferred by Articles 135 & 136 (5) of the Welfare Reform (Northern Ireland) Order 2015 ( 2 )makes the following Regulations. Made. If after this review, you are still unhappy with the decision you can ask for an independent review. Applying for a Discretionary Housing Payment. The Discretionary Support scheme is currently delivered under the provisions of the Discretionary Support Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2016. The panel are considering different aspects of the scheme including: The policy […] Making a claim for a discretionary support award 5. The paper responds to a number of queries posed by the Joint . Amendment to legislation will increase level of income below which a person is eligible for support from £18,137 to £20,405 . There are a number of Discretionary Support Grants and Loans available to people living in Northern Ireland who find themselves under exceptional pressure to provide for their family or a crisis that puts their families' health, safety or wellbeing at significant risk. freephone number: 0808 802 0020; Coming into operation in accordance with regulation 1. Picture . The non-repayable Discretionary Support self-isolation grant is to help with short-term living expenses where a person on a low income, or any member of their immediate family, is diagnosed with . My Housing Executive allows you to access information about your tenancy and contact us securely 24 hours a day. Response: Cliff Edge NI - joint inquiry into welfare policy in NI (2019) This paper (submitted by Law Centre NI on behalf of the Cliff Edge NI coalition) draws from the collective experience of those working with, and in support of, those affected by the social security changes. Completing the application online is the quickest way to make a claim for Financial Support, however, if you have any issues or are unable to make a claim online, contact Finance Support on. Your housing benefits will only cover the cost of renting a room in a shared property, unless. If you need help, please contact our advice line. As welfare reform and changes to the Social Fund have started to take effect, Housing Rights has found that affordability is consistently one of the top issues encountered by clients. Your housing benefits will only cover the cost of renting a room in a shared property, unless. Discretionary Support Scheme. The Minister for Communities, Deirdre Hargey MLA, has appointed an independent panel to carry out a review of the Discretionary Support scheme. Housing benefit for younger people. Written in 2019. To provide advisers with an overview of the various forms of discretionary support, financial assistance and charitable support that is available, in the interests of alleviating poverty and promoting greater security of tenure. Northern Ireland gets its share of UK money and that is how it is determined. Minister for the Economy, Diane Dodds announced that £22m of the support package had been secured to provide almost 40,000 students studying in Northern Ireland with a £500 COVID-19 Disruption Payment. Communities Minister Deirdre Hargey has welcomed the publication of a report from a Discretionary Support independent review panel - which was established to ensure the scheme provides adequate support to individuals in crisis situations. More details are available in the Finance Support section of NI Direct. These Regulations, which are made under articles 135 & 136 (5) of the Welfare Reform (Northern Ireland) Order 2015, provide for the establishment of a discretionary support fund to be administered by the Department, to provide emergency loans and grants to claimants who find themselves in extreme, exceptional or crisis circumstances which present a significant risk to the health, safety or . Northern Ireland The discretionary housing benefit money comes from the Treasury under the social security arrangements. Key supportive features of the non-repayable Discretionary Support self-isolation grant are: your household includes children, or. "The obvious need for such a programme was called into sharp focus last year with the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic. Discretionary Support. 1. Minister Hargey said: "The Discretionary . Is this page helpful? Discretionary Support Scheme NI. In this briefing, Law Centre NI takes stock of the Discretionary Support scheme. The Housing Executive can award you a Discretionary Housing Payment if you are a private tenant who gets the housing costs . This one-off single discretionary payment is being made in recognition of the disruption suffered by students to their studies, the impact on . Awards can be made as either an interest-free loan or a non-repayable grant. The Office of the Discretionary Support Commissioner (ODSC) was established under The Welfare Reform (Northern Ireland) Order 2015, Part 7. 6 th July 2016. Discretionary Support Scheme NI There are a number of Discretionary Support Grants and Loans available to people living in Northern Ireland who find themselves under exceptional pressure to provide for their family or a crisis that puts their families' health, safety or wellbeing at significant risk. Discretionary Support Fund in Northern Ireland Short-term financial help is available in Northern Ireland from the Finance Support Service as a: Discretionary Support self-isolation grant Universal Credit Contingency Fund short-term living expenses grant Discretionary Support Short-term benefit advance Social Fund budgeting loan They have been asked to identify areas of improvement and to make recommendations to the Department for Communities for policy change. ( AQO 2273/17-22) Link to this speech In context Individually. you have a partner living with you, or. The Commissioner upholds his statutory duties under Article 136 of the Order. The policy intent for Discretionary Support is to ensure a necessary but temporary response to particular but pressing needs facing the most vulnerable. Download (PDF 474.071 KB) This funding is designed to help bands . Accessing Discretionary Support and Financial Assistance 2019. Further information is available at: scamwiseni Freephone 0800 587 2750 Freephone. This existing fund will be ring-fenced and grants of between £500 and £10,000 will be available. Minister Welcomes Review Of Discretionary Support Scheme. The independent review will be carried out by an Inspector acting on behalf of the Discretionary . You may be able to get a loan to pay rent in advance if you have to pay this before you can move into a new home. Assistance may be available if a person is on a low income and they are in an extreme, exceptional or crisis situation. help may only be provided within Northern Ireland, so you cannot receive Discretionary Support for a crisis which occurs anywhere else. Nevin Economic Research Institute (NERI) has also found that those living in both the social and private rented sectors are at risk of poverty after housing costs are met. Coming into operation in accordance with regulation 1. Assistance may be available if a person is on a low income and they are in an extreme, exceptional or crisis situation. To contact: Use the online form 0800-587-2750 "Northern Ireland developed a unique system to replace the Social Fund and our Review examines how well this is working for those who need to access it and provides recommendations on how to improve it." As Discretionary Support is a NI specific scheme the Department has sole responsibility for the development and implementation of the policy and front line delivery. 04 January, 2021 01:00. The panel are considering different aspects of the scheme including: The policy […] Discretionary Support Scheme NI There are a number of Discretionary Support Grants and Loans available to people living in Northern Ireland who find themselves under exceptional pressure to provide for their family or a crisis that puts their families' health, safety or wellbeing at significant risk. As Covid-19 was designated as a notifiable disease for purposes of the Public Health (Scotland) Act 2008 in February 2020, the payment of the SISG would be . English: These Regulations, which are made under articles 135 & 136 (5) of the Welfare Reform (Northern Ireland) Order 2015, provide for the establishment of a discretionary support fund to be administered by the Department, to provide emergency loans and grants to claimants who find themselves in extreme, exceptional or crisis circumstances which present a significant risk to the health . knowledge and understanding. There are certain legislative requirements which need to be satisfied for Discretionary Support which include: you must be over 18 years old or a minimum of 16 years old if you do not have any parental support. Online Transactions. A discretionary provision has been put in place allowing local authorities to award the Self-Isolation Support Grant (SISG) using section 4 of the Public Health (Scotland) Act 2008. The supporting IT infrastructure is also the responsibility of the Department. The Discretionary Support Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2016. He has had experience of several significant 'management of change' initiatives in both Northern Ireland and across GB. I beg to move: That the draft Discretionary Support () Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020 be approved.The regulations, brought in under article 135 of the Welfare Reform Order 2015, will amend the Discretionary Support Regulations (NI) 2016. The amendment is very welcome, as it will increase the income level, allowing more people to access discretionary support, especially those, for example, couples with children, who have been . This is support to help those in an extreme or crisis situation and who need emergency help or support with living expenses. They have been asked to identify areas of improvement and to make recommendations to the Department for Communities for policy change. The latest Tweets from Law Centre NI (@LawCentreNI). Made. Applying to Finance Support You can apply by completing an online application or phoning 0800 587 2750. your household includes children, or. Interpretation Collapse - PART 2 Claims 4. Northern Ireland home energy support scheme: Who is eligible for the £200 and how it will be paid. Community Care Grants were abolished in Northern Ireland in November 2016 although Budgeting Loans are still available.. Discretionary Support in Northern Ireland Housing Rights Cost:£48-£110 As welfare reform and changes to the Social Fund have started to take effect, Housing Rights has found that affordability is consistently one of the top issues encountered by clients. The government restricts the amount of benefits it will give to private renters who are under 35. If you suspect you have received a fraudulent message as a scam, contact the Finance Support Service immediately. In light of a recent report Welfare Reforms in Northern Ireland, which was published by the Northern Ireland Audit Office (NIAO) it is clear that there has been relatively limited uptake of Universal Credit Contingency Fund payments and Discretionary Support loans . Discretionary Support Awards 3. Using law for social change. "It was an honour to chair this important and independent review into Discretionary Support, which can provide a lifeline for those in crisis. The easiest way to apply for this help if you get Universal Credit is to apply online, (link is external) but you can also phone NIHE to request a paper application form. Contact Information. 11 August, 2021 One in five discretionary support decisions in Northern Ireland were changed or returned by Inspectors at second review stage during 2020/2021 Rent in advance. Claim Discretionary Support You may be able to claim additional short term financial support for living expenses which has been set up to help support people who live in Northern Ireland during the. 6 th July 2016. As welfare reform and changes to the Social Fund have taken effect, Housing Rights has found that affordability is consistently one of the top issues encountered by clients. The new online application form, which is hosted on nidirect ,. The Discretionary Support Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2016. The Housing Executive in processing your application is exercising its statutory powers using the lawful basis of public task. as well as Cold Weather and Winter Fuel Payments and Discretionary Support. The policy intent for Discretionary Support is to ensure a necessary but Discretionary Support can help with: short-term living expenses (for example to buy food) the cost of buying, repairing or replacing basic household items (for example a cooker) travel expenses (in. Certain charitable funds may be able to help people who are seriously struggling to get the money together for a deposit. The Discretionary Support Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2016. Housing benefit for younger people. With the introduction of this new grant on 25 March 2020 we ensured that people in the North who are on a low income were amongst the first to be able to access . A change in policy brought about through the welfare reform process in Great Britain and Northern Ireland means that most benefit overpayments caused by 'official error' are recoverable. Anyone who would benefit in increasing their knowledge of financial support available. The government restricts the amount of benefits it will give to private renters who are under 35. Discretionary Support can be provided in the form of either a loan or a grant. Made. I want to advise you on the changes we have made to the way applicants can apply for a Discretionary Housing Payment through the Northern Ireland Housing Executive. DfC Finance Support A range of financial supports are available from DfC, including Discretionary Support; Budgeting Loans; Contingency Grants; Short-term Benefit Advances; and Sure Start Maternity Grants. This means that you may have to pay a month's rent in advance as well as a deposit before you move in to your accommodation. You may be able to get help to cover this rent in advance. . help may only be provided within Northern Ireland, so you cannot receive Discretionary Support for a crisis which occurs anywhere else. We introduced a new Discretionary Support Self-Isolation Grant for people who have been diagnosed with Covid-19 or are advised to self-isolate in accordance with official guidance. Role. Advice NI has been selected to join an independent expert panel to review the Discretionary Support Scheme in Northern Ireland Kevin Higgins, Advice NI's Head of Policy sits on the panel, which is chaired by Grainne McKeever, Professor of Law and Social Justice at Ulster University. A rent restriction. The Department for Communities in exercise of the powers conferred by Articles 135 & 136 (5) of the Welfare Reform (Northern Ireland) Order 2015 ( 1 ), and now vested in it ( 2 ), makes the following Regulations. If you want to rent private accommodation, you'll need enough money for a deposit. DfC Finance Support A range of financial supports are available from DfC, including Discretionary Support; Budgeting Loans; Contingency Grants; Short-term Benefit Advances; and Sure Start Maternity Grants. The Minister for Communities, Deirdre Hargey MLA, has appointed an independent panel to carry out a review of the Discretionary Support scheme. You can apply for more than one Discretionary Support. Understand the various forms of discretionary support, financial assistance and charitable support that is available, in the interests of alleviating poverty and promoting greater security of tenure. Discretionary Support is designed to support people who live in Northern Ireland and are in need of short-term financial help. Delivered online to meet needs in Belfast, Antrim and greater Northern Ireland communities. If you are unhappy with the review outcome, you can ask the Discretionary Support Commissioner, who is independent . 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