Government response to the Work and Pensions and Northern Ireland Affairs Committee's report on Welfare Policy in Northern Ireland

This is the government's response, published 5 November 2019.

Summary written by Accountability Index from the government's response. It is not the government's own words.

The Department for Work and Pensions has "noted the report and the recommendations", says many issues are for the Department for Communities, and sets out responses to five recommendations touching its own responsibility.

• On fortnightly Universal Credit payments, the Department states that claimants in England and Wales "already have the option to receive payments of Universal Credit more frequently than monthly", considered case by case.
• On Northern Ireland automations, it "remains committed to working with the Department for Communities" and says "Significant automation has already occurred, with more planned". It gives no 18-month date.
• On split payments, it will work with the Scottish Government "when they have settled their policy", and says "implementation cannot be expected soon".
• On the two-child limit, it does not halt or reimburse. It says any decision to depart from parity "would be for a Northern Ireland Executive and Assembly to take", and that the policy ensures fairness between claimants and taxpayers who support themselves through work.

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