Attwood urges benefit uptake as budget cuts hit homes

People in Northern Ireland could be missing out on thousands of pounds worth of benefits that they are entitled to, said Social Development Minister, Alex Attwood, earlier today.

Minister Attwood’s call comes after a recent benefit uptake drive by the Social Security Agency revealed that almost 2,000 people were missing out on a total of almost £120,000 each week.

Minister Attwood said: “In a time of monetary cuts and increasing taxes, especially given last week’s emergency budget announcement, it is now more important than ever that people receive the benefits that they are rightly entitled to.”

The Social Security Agency’s Benefit Uptake programme provides people in Northern Ireland with additional support to claim benefits they may be entitled to. The programme was facilitated with help from the Citizens’ Advice Bureau.

Alex Attwood added: “Almost 2,000 people are now £60 each better off a week because they checked their benefit entitlement. That’s a total of £120,000 each week which would have been lost to people in a time when the cost of living is on the rise and people are earning less. This is a substantial amount of money that will make a difference to people’s lives.”

Citizens’ Advice Chief Executive, Derek Alcorn said: “We are delighted to have worked in partnership with the Social Security Agency in this worthwhile programme which we feel continues to break new ground in public service delivery.”

Notes to editors:

1. The Benefit Uptake Programme provides vulnerable people in Northern Ireland with additional support to claim benefits they may be entitled to. In the 2009/10 Programme, the Social Security Agency working under contract with Citizens Advice offered over 25,000 customers the opportunity to check if they were missing out on benefits. The Agency also offered older people across four council areas the opportunity to have their benefit queries answered via a free-phone service operated by a pension adviser. Help was also provided to those claiming extra benefits.
2. The 2009/10 programme builds on the success of previous uptake activity which, since 2005 has paid extra money to almost 11,000 people.
3. Media enquiries to DSD Press Office on 028 9082 9497 or out of office hours contact the EIS Duty Press Officer on 07699 715440 and your call will be returned.