Nelson McCausland says the public has a vital role to play in shaping the new welfare system.

"It is important to help people understand that there is a way out of poverty and to put the measures in place to help people help themselves," he said.

"It is also important to ensure that those claimants in Northern Ireland who have particular needs are protected."

The Social Development Minister has called on the community, voluntary and advice sector to "share their vast experience and understanding of the issues facing local people."

He asked for their help in designing the criteria and guidance for accessing Universal Credit payment flexibilities.

Universal Credit is one single benefit for people aged 18 to 64 years and is paid to each household.

It replaces the numerous benefits such as means tested Jobseeker’s Allowance, Income Support and Child Tax Credits.

The Minister said: "In a recent Omnibus survey carried out on behalf of my Department, 81% of those surveyed had the view that benefit claimants should be paid fortnightly to make it easier to budget.

"In the same survey, only 34% of people had the view that all benefit payments, including Housing Benefit, should be paid in a lump sum like working people are paid their wages.

"These views are not new to me. I have heard these concerns raised by many interested parties and I have taken all these views on board.

"I recognised early that flexibility was needed for some in the Universal Credit system and I have managed to secure this flexibility. Now it is time to understand how this will work in practice and who should be able to access this help.

"Those people working on the ground, at the coal-face of real life issues, will play a vital role in helping my Department design a system which will deliver real support to those who need it."

(IT)