THE DUP and Sinn Féin have "conned" the public with a fictional fund to help the most vulnerable cope with benefit cuts, it has been claimed.
Green Party leader Steven Agnew alleged the top-up fund for those hit hardest by the Tories' welfare reforms is a "sleight of hand".
The North Down MLA was last night joined by benefit experts in raising serious concerns that the £90m-a-year outlined in the 'Fresh Start' deal was a repackaging of an existing hardship fund.
Figures obtained by Mr Agnew show that £80m a year which is already paid as part of the Social Security Agency's 'discretionary social fund' has been incorporated into Stormont's welfare mitigation measures.
"The people of Northern Ireland are being conned as part of the Fresh Start," Mr Agnew told The Irish News.
"In reality, it appears that there is no new money for welfare."
Nicva chief executive Seamus McAleavey also raised concerns.
"At this point I can't be sure where the money comes from to pay for all the welfare elements of the deal," he said.
"What it does say in black and white is that the social fund does form part of it, so potentially that portion of the money could be repackaged and used for something that is regarded as a greater priority."
