The Northern Ireland Assembly is due to debate the final stage of the controversial Welfare Reform Bill this morning.
The change to the benefits system is a key element of December’s landmark Stormont House Agreement.
Sinn Féin and the SDLP have signed a “petition of concern” which means the bill appears likely to be vetoed.
The bill needs cross-community support to be approved.
Sinn Féin withdrew support for the bill hours before it was due to be debated at the Assembly in March.
When withdrawing their support, Sinn Féin claimed the Democratic Unionist Party acted in bad faith by attempting to limit the planned scheme to current claimants rather than future ones.
The key debate comes a day after Northern Ireland’s First Minister Peter Robinson was admitted to hospital with a suspected heart attack.
The DUP leader underwent a procedure at Belfast’s Royal Victoria Hospital yesterday morning, but the debate is expected to continue in his absence.
DUP Finance Minister at Stormont Arlene Foster provided a brief update on his condition this morning.
“He has stabilised but still remains in hospital,” she said.
