Marshalled list of Amendments

Friday 7 February 2025

Item 5: Order Paper 81/22-27 – Tuesday 11 February 2025

Motion: Impact of the Universal Credit Five-Week Wait

Proposed:

‘That this Assembly expresses regret that over 349,000 people are living in poverty; recognises that social welfare payments play an important role in helping people cope with financial difficulties; outlines its concern that over 71,000 households will be affected by the move to Universal Credit and consequent five-week wait; acknowledges that there is a strong connection between the five-week wait, debt and increased food bank use; expresses alarm on the potential link between the five-week wait and exploitation by illegal money lenders; calls on the Minister for Communities to introduce an upfront grant for families to cover basic living costs during the five-week wait, targeted to vulnerable households as a matter of urgency; and further calls on the Minister to establish a dedicated working group, including those with lived experience and the advice sector, to develop a long term solution to the five-week wait.’

Mr Mark Durkan
Mr Colin McGrath
Mr Matthew O’Toole           

Amendment 1 

Leave out all after ‘illegal money lenders;’ and insert:

‘and calls on the Minister for Communities to rename and widen eligibility for the Universal Credit Contingency Fund and introduce a system of backdating for claimants’ first Universal Credit assessment period, in order to reduce and remove the five-week wait.’

[Ms Sian Mulholland]
[Ms Kellie Armstrong]
[Mrs Michelle Guy]
[Mr Andrew McMurray]

Amendment 2 (mutually exclusive to amendment 1)

Leave out all after ‘illegal money lenders;’ and insert:

‘recognises the importance of retaining the two-week run on legacy benefits, providing advance payments, and delivering an upfront, non-repayable grant for families to cover basic living costs during the five-week wait, targeted to low income and vulnerable households; and calls on the Minister for Communities to establish a dedicated working group, including those with lived experience and the advice sector, to inform his Department’s engagement with the UK Government on the development a long term solution to the five-week wait.’

[Mr Brian Kingston]
[Mr Maurice Bradley]