Are you entitled to more money? - Ritchie

A campaign that uncovered £6million in unclaimed benefits last year was re-launched today by the Social Development Minister Margaret Ritchie MLA.

She announced that Advice NI and Citizens’ Advice have been appointed by the Social Security Agency to help people check that they getting all the support that they are entitled to. This is the third year that the Agency has operated a benefit uptake initiative with external advice organisations.

The Minister said: “We are aware that there are people who are not claiming support that they could have. This can be for personal reasons or because they are confused by the benefit system or the complexity of the forms. This proactive approach by the Social Security Agency will make it easier for them by involving Advice NI and Citizen’s Advice to give them extra support.

“The Agency is repeating the exercise for a third year because of the success of previous campaigns. Last year, for example, six per cent of those contacted were found to have entitlement that they had not claimed. On average they were paid an extra of £42 per week – a sum that can make a real difference to people’s lives.

“This time we will be concentrating on people with disabilities, mental health illness or long-term illness, people over 60, carers and families/children. I would encourage anyone who receives a benefit uptake letter from the Agency to take this opportunity to see if they should be getting more money.”

The exercise is in addition to three mail shots that the Agency is also undertaking to encourage people to claim Carer’s Allowance, Pension Credit or rates relief directly from the Social Security Agency.

NOTES TO EDITORS:

1. The exercises build on the success of last year’s programme when:

• 6% of clients had successful claims
• The total amount of arrears paid out was £1,380,580
• The average weekly entitlement of each claim was £42.41, amounting to additional yearly benefit of over £6million.

2. The Social Security Agency has a programme of benefit uptake activities, both internal and external.

3. Six benefit uptake exercises were available for contract and Advice NI and Citizens' Advice were awarded three exercises each.

4. Media enquiries to DSD Information Office 028 9082 9497