To ask the Minister for Communities to detail (i) the number of applications for Discretionary Support that were (a) successful; and (b) rejected in the last five years; and (ii) the proportion of loans offered compared with grants over the same period.

My Department publishes an annual report which details Discretionary Support performance and expenditure during each financial year. The report includes the number of applications for Discretionary Support that were awarded and disallowed. The latest published annual reports can be found at: www.communities-ni.gov.uk/publications/welfare-supplementary-payments-discretionary-support-standards-advice-assistance-and-sanctions

To establish the proportion of loans offered compared with grants over the same period it is important to note that a Discretionary Support claim following full assessment can result in more than one award outcome. A customer may receive a grant award, loan award or combination award.

The table below includes an analysis of Discretionary Support payments issued in each scheme in the last five years:

*Discretionary Support grant payments include standard grants, Universal Credit Contingency Fund grants and self-isolation grants.