16446 (2026). Hon Willow-Jean Prime to the Minister for Social Development and Employment

16446 (2026). Hon Willow-Jean Prime to the Minister for Social Development and Employment: Have there been any changes since 1 November 2023 to eligibility criteria, or assessment and decision-making processes, in relation to applications for the Advance Payment of Benefit; if so, what were they and when did they come into effect?

Hon Louise Upston: I am advised that from 11 December 2023, more hardship payments required approval from a Ministry of Social Development Manager before they could be made. This included approval for specific types of Advance Payments of Benefit. I am further advised that, from 3 September 2025, the Ministry entered into a preferred supplier arrangement with 4 suppliers of whiteware. Under this arrangement, where an Advance Payment of Benefit is made for whiteware, it must be purchased from one of the four preferred suppliers This is also my response to WPQ 16482 (2026)