Dear Department for Communities (Northern Ireland),

In the NIAO Welfare Reform Report 2019, reference is made to a £7million contingency fund to assist those in hardship with non-repayable emergency payments. In the Evason report, mention is specifically made of mitigating financial hardship for those who are struggling as a result of Universal Credit.

Can you please advise as to how a claimant in financial hardship can gain access to this contingency fund?
Can you please provide details as to the spend to date?
Can you please provide the number of payments made to claimants who are in financial hardship as a result of migrating to or claiming Universal Credit?
What is the average amount paid in emergency grants from the contingency fund?
What factors are taken into consideration when determining whether a non-repayable emergency payment will be made?

Yours faithfully,

E Farrell