Supplementary Consultation on Domestic Rating Measures
In November 2023 the Department of Finance consulted on seven rates proposals including three in the domestic sector. This supplementary consultation now builds on that process and the feedback provided to the Department.
The two Domestic proposals being looked at by the Department in this supplementary consultation are:
- Increasing the maximum capital value cap (the cap) within the domestic rating system from £400,000 to £485,000
- Reduction in the Early Payment Discount from 4% to 2%.
The deadline for comments is Friday 25th April and is available on the Department of Finance website here:
https://www.finance-ni.gov.uk/consultations/supplementary-consultation-domestic-rating-measures
Pathways to Work: Reforming Benefits and Support to Get Britain Working Green Paper – Department for Work & Pensions Consultation
There has been considerable coverage in the media about the Labour Government’s proposed cuts to disability benefits including Personal Independence Payment (PIP) and Universal Credit health support. The Pathways to Work consultation outlines the Government’s proposals including:
- Scrapping the work capability assessment. Any extra financial support for health conditions in Universal Credit will therefore be solely based on qualification for PIP.
- Changing the PIP rules to make it harder for some groups of disabled people to qualify for the daily living component.
- Increasing the standard personal allowance paid under Universal Credit by £7 per week by 2026/27.
- Cutting the health payment (which is the current limited capability for work related activity component) by £47 per week for new claimants.
- Introducing a new disability payment into Universal Credit from 2026 for those on the new lower rate of the health payment, but only where they are someone who has “the most severe, life-long health conditions, who have no prospect of improvement and will never be able to work”.
- Freezing the rate at which the limited capability for work related activity element is paid for existing claimants until 2029/30.
- Introducing a work trial guarantee meaning that no claimant’s disability benefits will be reassessed as a direct result of them moving into work.
Siobhán will be making a detailed response to this consultation as it is likely to have greater impacts in Northern Ireland as there are more people in receipt of disability benefits here. If you would like to input into this consultation or feel you could organise a focus group to discuss it with a group of women please contact Siobhán at policy@wsn.org.uk as soon as possible.
The deadline for comments is Monday 30th June 2025 and it is available on the Government’s website here:
