Mr Patsy McGlone (Mid Ulster): To ask the Minister of Finance, pursuant to AQW 4092/17-22, for an update on the resolution of online identification verification problems with the Self Employed Income Support Scheme for holders of an Irish Passport and a Northern Ireland Driver Licence.
Minister of Finance: My Department has worked closely with HMRC and the Driver and Vehicle Agency to ensure people from here are now able to access the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme, using their driving licence in the verification process.
This improvement to the HMRC service went live on Friday 12th June 2020, and by 16:00 that day, over 50 applications had already been verified using local driving licences.
HMRC are engaging separately with the Irish Passport Office to provide a similar service.
ENDS
Your MLA 