To ask the Minister for Communities whether she will implement a temporary freeze on benefit deductions to assist claimants with the rising cost of living.

Any pause in debt recovery would require a break in parity from the Department for Work and Pensions. The financial cost of any divergence would require Executive agreement.

The Department for Communities recognises the financial hardship that many people may be experiencing because of the cost of living and is fully committed to supporting and helping individuals who may be finding difficulty with the repayment of social security benefit debt. Individuals should contact the Department’s Debt Management team, who will work with them to agree an affordable repayment plan. Contact details for Debt Management can be found on https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/contacts/debt-management-northern-ireland