DUP backs payment of benefit into women’s purses rather than men’s wallets

Speaking at a meeting of Derry City Council on Tuesday (March 26), DUP Alderman Maurice Devenney said the party’s councillors recognised the “potentially negative impact” of certain elements of the Universal Credit shake-up such as it being paid as a single monthly payment into a nominated person in the household’s bank account.

SDLP councillor Angela Dobbins raised the issue as part of the Empty Purse Campaign, a women led initiative across Northern Ireland, that is concerned the “nominated person” under Universal Credit is likely in many cases to be the male “head of the household” and traditional bread-winner.

She said the proposal to pay Universal Credit on a monthly basis was also a source of anxiety for women who face real concerns about budgeting for vital day-to-day needs.

Ms Dobbins proposed the Council call on Mr McCausland to ensure money is paid into the main carer’s purse as opposed to the main earner’s wallet. She said recipients should equally be allowed to receive payments every two weeks if they so wished.

DUP Alderman Maurice Devenney said his party delegation had “no disagreement with the motion on principle.”

Mr Devenney, however, praised his party colleague, the Benefits Minister, saying he had secured a number of flexibilities for recipients here that are not available to their counterparts in Great Britain.

Councillor Elisha McCallion spoke on behalf of Sinn Féin saying the party strongly supported the ‘wallet to purse’ campaign.