Alliance Communities spokesperson Kellie Armstrong MLA has said she has received assurances from the Department welfare mitigations will continue to be paid into April.

The Strangford MLA was speaking after questioning Communities Minister Deirdre Hargey regarding the mitigations, which are due to run out at the end of this month. That is despite the legislation not yet passing through the Assembly.

“I have repeatedly asked the Department for Communities for clarification as to how the Minister is going to be able to pay the so-called bedroom tax and other mitigations. Although the legislation has not progressed, the Minister has now confirmed payments will be made through the arrangements available for the start of the new financial year.

“Many people are rightly worried about their financial situation and how they are going to pay their rent, never mind the additional cost of a bedroom tax. We need to further consider the welfare mitigations themselves, if they are working and if there are other solutions we can introduce to help people.

“Alliance will continue to highlight the need to support our most vulnerable, through this pandemic and beyond.”