Finance Support Service (in times of crisis and need)

If you have a financial crisis you can apply for Discretionary Support or a Short Term Benefit Advance by using the online application form

You can apply for Discretionary Support or the Universal Credit Contingency Fund by using the Finance Support form. You do not need to ring the Discretionary Support Freephone line, someone will contact you. Check what Finance Support you can apply for.

You may be asked to visit your local Jobs and Benefits office if additional information is required.

The Department for Communities also offer an appointment based face to face service for vulnerable claimants in each of their Jobs & Benefits offices. Vulnerable claimants include people who may find it difficult to access telephony because of learning problems, mental illness or difficulty communicating.

If you use sign language

You can use British Sign Language (BSL) or Irish Sign Language (ISL) to contact Finance Support Service:

To use the video relay service:

Check that you can use the BSL video relay service
Check that you can use the ISL video relay service
contact Finance Support Service via the video relay service
The interpreter will check whether you require BSL or ISL

This service is for Northern Ireland residents only.

SMS messages

When claiming Finance support you may receive text messages (SMS) from the Department for Communities (DfC). They will always be clearly marked as DfC and will never ask you to give, or click a link to give, personal information or financial details by message or email.

If you’re concerned or unsure about any text messages (SMS) you receive from or about Finance Support you should contact the Finance Support Service directly. If you suspect you have received a fraudulent message as a scam, contact the Finance Support Service immediately.

Further information is available at scamwiseni.

Freephone:0800 587 2750

Freephone:0800 587 2751 If you are deaf, have hearing loss or tinnitus and for customers with speech difficulties

Opening hours

Lines are open Monday to Friday, 9.00 am to 4.00 pm

The Department for Communities is experiencing a very high volume of Benefits calls. It may take longer to answer your call.

Benefits that can be claimed online are:

Contacting 08 and 03 numbers

For more information, visit Finance Support.

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What to do next

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

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.

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.

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.

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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

For queries about your GRONI account, email gro_nisra@finance-ni.gov.uk.

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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.

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.

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

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

If you have a question about a government service or policy, you should contact the relevant government organisation directly. We don't have access to information about you.

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Translation help

Select a language

Finance Support Service (in times of crisis and need)

If you use sign language

SMS messages

Opening hours

Help improve this page - send your feedback

Messages

What to do next

Carer's Allowance

Discretionary support / Short-term benefit advance

Disability Living Allowance

Employment and Support Allowance

Jobseeker’s Allowance

Personal Independence Payment