Ms Helen Faughnan:

The family income supplement could kick in, depending on the nature of the family composition, whether children are involved and the employment level. We will work out a number of scenarios and the actual benefits.

With regard to mortgage interest supplement, since the end of 2011 the number of mortgage interest supplement recipients has fallen. At that time the number was 18,988 and this had dropped to 11,270 by the end of August this year. The main drivers for this reduction are the introduction of the 12 month rule, the increase in the minimum contribution and the drop in the live register. Approximately 58% of mortgage interest supplement recipients are in receipt of jobseeker's payments. As the live register drops, this leads to a drop in the mortgage interest supplement numbers. We will only see the outcomes of the 12 month rule now because customers who have gone through the 12 month engagement with the mortgage arrears resolution process are starting to reappear. In July it was awarded to 67 recipients and in August it was awarded to 28 recipients. We are keeping this under review. Realistically it will take a number of months for it to wash through to see what type of solutions have been put in place with lenders and whether people need to come back to us for State support.