Alliance spokesperson on Welfare, Strangford MLA Kellie Armstrong, has said the Communities Minister needs to move fast to extend the welfare mitigations that are due to run out on 31 March. Kellie Armstrong said: “Shortly after taking up her post, the Communities Minister confirmed that she would continue to provide mitigation payments to offset the […]
Alliance Communities spokesperson Kellie Armstrong MLA has said she is pleased legislation enabling cohabiting couples to be treated the same way as married couples on some benefits has passed the Assembly. The Strangford MLA was speaking as the motion involving the bereavement support payment made it through the Assembly. She said it would see cohabiting […]
Alliance MLA Kellie Armstrong has welcomed news that parents of premature babies will be able to claim an extra £160 a week. The payments are expected to be announced by the chancellor in the Budget on Wednesday. Kellie Armstrong said: “I welcome news that the chancellor is expected to make provision in Wednesday’s Budget for […]
Alliance’s Communities Spokesperson, Kellie Armstrong MLA, has welcomed the Secretary of State for Work and Pension’s announcement that people who are on Universal Credit and reach State Pension Age will receive a run on, meaning no halt to benefits during the assessment period. Kellie Armstrong said: “This welcome move will mean over 200,000 new pensioners […]
Alliance spokesperson on welfare, Kellie Armstrong MLA, has welcomed the announcement of an extension of welfare mitigations to the bedroom tax, but says more clarity is needed. Kellie Armstrong said: “This announcement of an additional £23 million to protect people from the bedroom tax is welcome news to the 38,000 households who would be affected. […]
Alliance South Down Westminster candidate Patrick Brown has said the welfare system is not working and letting down those who need it most. Councillor Brown said while the welfare system was set up to help the most vulnerable in our society, successive governments have introduced changes and cuts, leaving people in poverty. “Alliance was steadfast […]
Alliance spokesperson on Welfare, Trevor Lunn MLA, has called for Sinn Féin and the DUP to give a commitment to people on welfare benefits that they will restore the Assembly before 31 March 2020. Trevor Lunn said: “I was one of five political representatives who wrote to the Secretary of State urging him to extend […]
East Belfast Alliance Councillor, Peter McReynolds, has said that assessments for Personal Independence Payments have caused great hardship and distress to people living with multiple sclerosis. Councillor McReynolds was commenting on a report released by the MS Society following a survey of nearly 900 people living in the UK with MS. Councillor McReynolds said: […]
Alliance Communities spokesperson Trevor Lunn MLA has called on Parliament to extend mitigations offsetting the impact of welfare reform in Northern Ireland. Mr Lunn said a recent joint report from the House of Commons Work and Pensions and Northern Ireland Affairs Committees, which recommended continuing mitigations for a further four years from 2020, showed the […]
Alliance MLA Kellie Armstrong has said she is disappointed the BBC has scrapped free TV licences as standard for over 75-year-olds. Households with one person who receives pension credit will still be eligible for a free licence from June 2020. Strangford MLA Ms Armstrong said it wasn’t enough for many. “It is disappointing the BBC […]