McCausland calls for views on future of discretionary support

In the public consultation, launched today, Minister McCausland asks for views on the Department’s intention to ensure that any future discretionary support schemes will:

Offer immediate assistance to vulnerable people who find themselves in the most exceptional, extreme or crisis situations and;

In the longer term, promote independence and self sufficiency.

Minister McCausland said: “It is important that any new discretionary support schemes that we implement in the future should help to tackle poverty and disadvantage and grow our economy, but it is also important that any new scheme can help those in need move towards an independent life, and help them become self sufficient.”

The proposed reform of the welfare system will see the abolition of the current Social Fund which is made up to two elements – regulated payments and discretionary payments.

While the regulated payments will be incorporated into the new Universal Credit system, a unique opportunity now exists for Northern Ireland to create its own, more holistic discretionary support scheme. The Social Security Agency is currently working to design and develop this new replacement Discretionary Support scheme to best meet the needs of low-income families across Northern Ireland.

The Minister added: “We have to look to the future and decide how we want to operate any new discretionary payment scheme and ultimately, what we want it to achieve in the long term.

“With the abolition of the current Social Fund arrangements we have a unique opportunity to create a bespoke scheme that is designed with the specific circumstances of Northern Ireland in mind. Our policy behind this scheme should progress the Northern Ireland Executive’s anti–poverty agenda which aims to meet both the immediate needs of those experiencing poverty, and encourage and support their efforts towards self sufficiency.

“By integrating all of my Department’s discretionary support strategies and services into this overarching policy, we will be able to target our resources to help those most affected by the changes in housing benefit and the wider welfare reform agenda in the most effective and consistent way. I look forward to hearing your views.”

The consultation will run for 12 weeks and can be accessed at: http://www.dsdni.gov.uk/consultations-discretionary-support-policy.htm. Hard copies and alternative formats of the consultation will also be available on request. The closing date for comments is 11 September 2012.

For more information, or to request a copy of the consultation document, please contact: [email protected] or telephone Julie Lavery on 028 9082 9570.