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  1. Home
  2. Benefits and money
  3. Benefits and financial support
  4. Guide to benefits

Welfare changes

benefits are changing graphic
Welfare changes in Northern Ireland

Benefit Cap

The Benefit Cap is a limit on the amount of benefit a household can receive

PIP

Personal Independence Payment helps people who have a disability or long-term health condition

Universal Credit

Universal Credit is a payment for people over 18 but under State Pension age who are on a low income or out of work

An independent Advice NI Helpline is available if you need help or advice about any of the changes to the welfare system.

Changes to Employment and Support Allowance

Welfare Reforms will limit the amount of time ESA based on contributions can be paid to some customers  … read more

Appeals

How you dispute social security decision in Northern Ireland changed on 23 May 2016 … read more

Housing Benefit/Social Sector Size Criteria

Social Sector Size Criteria has changed how Housing Benefit is calculated for tenants in social housing  … read more

Financial support

Finance Support is available to help people in times of financial crisis or need … read more

Benefits sanctions

If you do not follow the rules when claiming a benefit, a sanction may be applied  … read more

Benefit fraud

If you think someone is committing benefit fraud, you can report them and stop them taking money from the people who need it most  … read more

Benefit debt deductions from your pay

Your employer may be asked to deduct benefit overpayments that you owe from your pay … read more

Support if you're affected by welfare changes

Supplementary payments are available to support people who may lose out under the welfare changes … read more
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What to do next

Comments or queries about angling can be emailed to anglingcorrespondence@daera-ni.gov.uk 

What to do next

If you have a comment or query about benefits, you will need to contact the government department or agency which handles that benefit.  Contacts for common benefits are listed below.

Carer's Allowance

Call 0800 587 0912
Email dcs.incomingpostteamdhc2@nissa.gsi.gov.uk

Discretionary support / Short-term benefit advance

Call 0800 587 2750 
Email customerservice.unit@communities-ni.gov.uk

Disability Living Allowance

Call 0800 587 0912 
Email dcs.incomingpostteamdhc2@nissa.gsi.gov.uk

Employment and Support Allowance

Call 0800 587 1377

Jobseeker’s Allowance

Contact your local Jobs & Benefits office

Personal Independence Payment

Call 0800 587 0932

If your query is about another benefit, select ‘Other’ from the drop-down menu above.

What to do next

Comments or queries about the Blue Badge scheme can be emailed to bluebadges@infrastructure-ni.gov.uk or you can also call 0300 200 7818.

What to do next

For queries or advice about careers, contact the Careers Service.

What to do next

For queries or advice about Child Maintenance, contact the Child Maintenance Service.

What to do next

For queries or advice about claiming compensation due to a road problem, contact DFI Roads claim unit.

What to do next

If you can’t find the information you’re looking for in the Coronavirus (COVID-19) section, then for queries about:

  • Restrictions or regulations — contact the Department of Health
  • Travel advice (including self-isolation) — contact the Department of Health
  • Coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccinations — contact the Department of Health or Public Health Agency

If your query is about another topic, select ‘Other’ from the drop-down menu above.

What to do next

For queries about your identity check, email nida@nidirect.gov.uk and for queries about your certificate, email covidcertni@hscni.net.

What to do next

For queries or advice about criminal record checks, email ani@accessni.gov.uk

What to do next

Application and payment queries can be emailed to ema_ni@slc.co.uk

What to do next

For queries or advice about employment rights, contact the Labour Relations Agency.

What to do next

For queries or advice about birth, death, marriage and civil partnership certificates and research, contact the General Register Office Northern Ireland (GRONI) by email gro_nisra@finance-ni.gov.uk

What to do next

For queries about the High Street Spend Local Scheme,  email HSSS.mail@economy-ni.gov.uk.

What to do next

For queries about:

  • Car tax, vehicle registration and SORN
    contact the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA), Swansea
     
  • Driver licensing and tests, MOT and vehicle testing
    contact the Driver & Vehicle Agency (DVA), Northern Ireland

If your query is about another topic, select ‘Other’ from the drop-down menu above.

What to do next

For queries about your identity check, email nida@nidirect.gov.uk.

 

What to do next

For queries or advice about passports, contact HM Passport Office.

What to do next

For queries or advice about Penalty Charge Notices (PCNs), including parking tickets and bus lane PCNs, email dcu@infrastructure-ni.gov.uk

What to do next

For queries or advice about pensions, contact the Northern Ireland Pension Centre.

What to do next

If you wish to report a problem with a road or street you can do so online in this section.

If you wish to check on a problem or fault you have already reported, contact DfI Roads.

What to do next

For queries or advice about historical, social or cultural records relating to Northern Ireland, use the Public Record Office of Northern Ireland (PRONI) enquiry service.

What to do next

For queries or advice about rates, email LPSCustomerTeam@lpsni.gov.uk

What to do next

For queries or advice about  60+ and Senior Citizen SmartPasses (which can be used to get concessionary travel on public transport), contact Smartpass - Translink.

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