The Discretionary Support Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2016
These Regulations, which are made under articles 135 & 136 (5) of the Welfare Reform (Northern Ireland) Order 2015, provide for the establishment of a discretionary support fund to be administered by the Department, to provide emergency loans and grants to claimants who find themselves in extreme, exceptional or crisis circumstances which present a significant risk to the health, safety or well-being of the claimant or a member of the claimant's family.