Increase in annual income threshold above which a claimant may not normally be eligible for discretionary support in Northern Ireland

New statutory rule

New regulations have been issued in Northern Ireland that increase the annual income threshold above which a claimant may not normally be eligible for discretionary support.

Coming into operation on the day after they are approved by a resolution of the Northern Ireland Assembly, the Discretionary Support (Amendment No. 2) (COVID-19) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020 (SR.No.67/2020) amend the Discretionary Support Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2016 (SR.No.270/2016) to raise the annual income threshold above which a claimant may not normally be eligible for discretionary support so that it is based on a working week of 45 hours (as opposed to the current calculation based on 40 hours a week) over 52 weeks paid at the National Minimum Wage for a person over the age of 25.

NB – Communities Minister Deidre Hargey advised earlier this week that the change in response to the COVID-19 outbreak will increase the annual income threshold to £20,405.

SR.No.67/2020 is available from legislation.gov.uk