NIAPN Updates

Cliff Edge Coalition

Campaigning to sustain and strengthen vital welfare reform mitigations to protect people across Northern Ireland.

Our Key Asks Latest News

Who We Are

The Cliff Edge Coalition brings together more than 100 organisations from across Northern Ireland. Established in 2018, the Coalition campaigns to sustain and strengthen crucial welfare reform mitigations.

These mitigations were first agreed by the Northern Ireland Executive in 2016 and were designed to alleviate some of the harshest impacts of the Westminster welfare reform agenda.

The Cliff Edge Coalition is driven forward by its Working Group made up of 10 organisations and representatives from across the voluntary and community sector and academia in Northern Ireland acting collaboratively to oversee and shape the work of the wider Coalition.

We are all driven by a common goal which is to address growing poverty levels in Northern Ireland by advocating for a stronger social security system to protect the most vulnerable people here.

Currently, the Cliff Edge Coalition Working Group is convened jointly by Women’s Support Network and the NI Anti-Poverty Network. Law Centre NI stepped down as convenor of the Cliff Edge Coalition Working Group at the end of August 2026, having served as co-convenor with Housing Rights since 2018 and sole convenor since early 2022.

All of the Cliff Edge Coalition’s archived materials can be found on the Law Centre NI’s website.

100+ Member organisations
2018 Coalition established
2028 Benefit Cap mitigation secured until

What We've Achieved

As the mitigations were only due to run until April 2020, the impending ‘Cliff Edge’ meant that many households in Northern Ireland would abruptly lose vital support. The Cliff Edge Coalition campaigned successfully for the NI Assembly to act.

"Bedroom Tax" mitigation

The Social Sector Size Criteria mitigation retained indefinitely, protecting social housing tenants.

Benefit Cap protection

The Benefit Cap mitigation extended until 2028.

Loopholes closed

Closed the loopholes which had prevented many claimants from accessing financial assistance through the mitigation scheme

Two Child Limit Scrapped

All children in a household on UC will receive the child element for UC, not just the first two children.

New Claims Grant re-named

The Contingency Fund grant available to those struggling to make ends meet while waiting 5 weeks for first UC payment has been renamed the "New Claims Grant" to increase awareness and make more accessible.

Our Renewed Campaign

The Coalition is now calling for new mitigations that respond to the current welfare system and the cost-of-living crisis. We have four key asks:

1

Extend the mitigation of the benefit cap

Extend the current mitigation to the benefit cap beyond 2028.

Key Ask 1: Extend the Benefit Cap
2

Resolve the five-week wait

Resolve the five-week wait for a first Universal Credit payment.

Key Ask 2: Resolve the 5-week wait
3

Introduce a Carers Recognition Payment

Introduce a carer's recognition payment and a young carer's recognition payment.

Key Ask 3: Introduce a Carer’s Recognition Payment
4

Provide a homelessness prevention grant

Provide a homelessness prevention grant to private renters to keep them in their homes.

Key Ask 4: Provide a homelessness prevention grant

Latest News

Statements, briefings and updates from the Cliff Edge Coalition.

Add your organisation's voice

Over 100 organisations stand behind the Coalition. Join the Cliff Edge Coalition and help strengthen our social security safety net. To join the Cliff Edge Coalition or for queries, contact: cliffedgeni@niapn.org

Find out more