Discretionary Support consultation launched in Northern Ireland

The Department for Communities is asking people for their views on proposed changes to its Discretionary Support scheme which provides support to people facing extreme, exceptional or crisis situations.

The proposed changes aim to better target support to the most vulnerable low-income households, improve service delivery by more directly meeting individual needs and reduce ambiguity around eligibility.

The proposals include extending the scheme to 16 and 17-year-olds with parental responsibility, lowering annual income thresholds and increasing the minimum period before a further award can be made for the same items. These changes are designed to ensure that the Discretionary Support scheme continues to operate as intended, in providing financial assistance to the most vulnerable in a time of crisis.

The public consultation is open from October 7, 2026 and runs until December 2, 2026.

For more information, including access to the consultation document and questionnaire, visit www.communities-ni.gov.uk/ds-changes