The Social Security (Claims and Payments) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2021 - screening

These Regulations will allow the Department for Communities (DfC), with the claimant’s consent, to pay a large amount of benefit arrears due to vulnerable claimants, in instalments rather than one lump sum. DfC can already make staggered payments for Employment Support Allowance (ESA) and Universal Credit (UC) these changes only extend this beneficial option to all other benefits.  This is proposed as a positive change to increase the flexibility for claimants as to how they can receive the benefit they are owed by the department.