The progress of the Welfare Reform Bill in Northern Ireland has been further delayed until Spring 2014.
The Welfare Reform Bill needs to pass through a number of key legislative stages before it can become law. Discussions are continuing amongst the political parties and Minister McCausland has stated that he will only move the Bill into the next stage, Consideration Stage, when he believes there is sufficient consensus within the Assembly to do so.
This means that changes to the benefits system will not happen in October 2013, but will be delayed until Spring 2014 at the earliest.
The Department for Social Development has announced a revised timetable as follows:
• The introduction of Universal Credit: Summer 2014
• The introduction of a Benefit Cap: Spring 2014
• The introduction of Personal Independence Payment: Spring 2014
• Changes to housing benefit: Spring 2014
• The introduction of new fraud and error powers: Spring 2014
• Changes to Employment and Support Allowance: Spring 2014
• Reform of the Social Fund system: Spring 2014
• Introduction of changes to the Appeals process: Spring 2014
Write to your MLA
This delay gives carers more opportunity to tell MLAs of their fears about welfare reform. Check out our Bedroom Tax Campaign
Read more about Welfare Reform at: www.nidirect.gov.uk/welfarereform and see how the Welfare Reform Bill is progressing at www.niassembly.gov.uk/Assembly-Business/Legislation/Primary-Legislation-Current-Bills/Welfare-Reform-Bill/.
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