Guide to benefits

Before claiming a benefit

Learn if you're entitled to any benefits and how to claim

After claiming benefits

Learn what you need to know after you make a benefit claim

Range of available benefits

Learn what benefits are available

Benefit sanctions

When claiming a benefit there are certain rules that need to be followed … read more

Benefit Calculator

Answer questions anonymously online about your savings, income and outgoings to get benefit advice for you, your family or someone else … read more

Financial support for disabled people

Information on financial support if you are disabled, including Personal Independence Payment, Disability Living Allowance and Attendance Allowance … read more

Appeal a benefits decision

If you think a decision about your benefits or child maintenance is wrong, you can ask the office that made the decision to explain it … read more

Benefits if you are nearing the end of life

If you are living with a terminal illness you may be entitled to get benefits at a higher rate, get extra money or payments quicker than usual … read more

Avoid benefit fraud: report changes in your circumstances

Make sure you get the right amount of benefits, by reporting any changes to your circumstances … read more

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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.

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 comments about a GP practice, contact the practice directly. If information about the GP practice is missing, outdated or wrong, email Business Services Organisation (BSO) at: professionalsupportteam@hscni.net.

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 DVA online

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.

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