Alliance Communities spokesperson Kellie Armstrong MLA has called on the Communities Minister to extend supplementary payments for up to two years until a huge backlog of Personal Independence Payment (PIP) appeals are processed. Statistics from the Department for Communities show more than 68 per cent of people have been waiting more than a year for […]
Alliance South Belfast MLA Paula Bradshaw has said there must be no further delay on minority language and culture legislation being brought forward by the Executive, despite ongoing leadership changes in Unionist parties. Speaking after she and party leader Naomi Long MLA met Conradh na Gaeilge to cover some of the detail in commitments contained […]
Alliance Communities spokesperson Kellie Armstrong MLA has called for legislation to be moved urgently to ensure welfare mitigations will continue. Without new legislation, the current package of mitigations are due to end on March 31. Strangford MLA Ms Armstrong said clarity was needed quickly for the thousands of people who benefit from mitigations. “Welfare mitigations […]
Alliance Communities spokesperson Kellie Armstrong MLA has called on the Finance Minister to consider allocating money to reform the controversial ‘six-month’ rule for terminally ill people. As part of a cross-party letter, MLAs wrote to Conor Murphy to urge him to give the Department for Communities (DFC) £2 million to progress reform of the Special […]
Alliance Communities spokesperson Kellie Armstrong MLA has supported a call to improve the level of support for people who have to self-isolate as a result of COVID-19. The Independent Scientific Advisory Group (ISAG), alongside trade unions and organisations in the community sector, have written to Ministers to seek support to encourage people contacted by track […]
Alliance Communities Spokesperson Kellie Armstrong has said time is running out to protect the benefits of over 40,000 people in Northern Ireland. Kellie was speaking after raising concerns there are only seven weeks left to mitigate against the worst effects of what could happen if a new plan is not brought forward and confirmed. She […]
Alliance Communities spokesperson Kellie Armstrong MLA has questioned if the Department for Communities intends to deliver youth employment programmes after receiving confirmation tenders for an employment scheme have been paused. The Work Ready Employment Service is designed to help those who have lost their jobs, but are ready to start work in a similar or […]
Alliance Communities spokesperson Kellie Armstrong MLA has welcomed confirmation those undergoing benefit appeals will receive a COVID-19 heating payment if they are successful in the process. The Department for Communities provided a one-off heating payment of £200 for those who are in receipt of certain higher rate disability benefits. Payments were due to be made […]
Alliance Communities spokesperson Kellie Armstrong MLA has said the independent advice sector needs financial support to secure its survival. The Strangford MLA was speaking after the draft Budget from the Department for Communities was shown to MLAs, proposing a £1.5 million reduction in funding for the independent advice sector, with organisation Advice NI saying it […]
Unless more money is found for the Department for Communities’ Budget, people in Northern Ireland will be further disadvantaged, Alliance Communities spokesperson Kellie Armstrong MLA has said. Ms Armstrong was speaking after the Budget papers were presented to MLAs at the Assembly’s Communities Committee meeting. She said the Communities Minister and Finance Minister needed to […]