AQO 3131/22-27 Oral question to the Minister for Communities
To ask the Minister for Communities to outline any assessment his Department has made of the impact of transitional protection on Universal Credit claimants in Northern Ireland, following the removal of the two-child limit.
Asked by Sian Mulholland MLA on 5 February 2026
- Answered
- Oral
- Answered in the Chamber
- Tabled
- 5 February 2026
- Answer due by
- 17 February 2026
- Answered
- 17 February 202612 days after tabling
- Department
- Department for Communities
- Priority question
- No
Answer
Answered in the Assembly Chamber on 17 February 2026. Extract from the Official Report (Hansard), including any supplementary questions:
Mr Lyons
Subject to the consent of the Assembly to the legislative consent motion, the universal credit two-child limit will be removed from April 2026. That represents a significant step in supporting low-income families and reducing child poverty in Northern Ireland. It is a change that I wholeheartedly welcome. Following the change, households that are currently affected by the two-child policy will see an increase in their underlying UC entitlement. That is expected to reduce any UC transitional element that may be in payment. My officials are undertaking analytical work to determine the specific impacts of the change.
Ms Mulholland
Thank you, Minister, for confirming that. I am greatly worried by the fact that we are giving with one hand and taking with the other with the transitional protection and the removal of the two-child limit. Can the Minister confirm whether his Department has modelled how many families will likely face a deficit when this comes into play?
Mr Lyons
As I said in response to the Member's first question, officials are currently undertaking an analysis of that. We will be more than happy to share that data when we can.