New Jobs & Benefits Office bringing a dynamic and modernised service to Andersonstown

Minister for Social Development, Alex Attwood, and Minister for Employment and Learning, Sir Reg Empey, officially opened the Jobs & Benefits office in Andersonstown today.

To date, 27 of the new Jobs & Benefits offices have opened in Northern Ireland and DSD Minister Alex Attwood highlighted the importance of the Welfare Reform programme, adding: “With news from Westminster that benefit entitlement may be reduced it is imperative that those who are entitled to benefits have the expertise of Social Security Agency staff in ensuring that the customers apply correctly for the right benefit.

“Jobs & Benefits is part of an ambitious programme of reform. What you see here today in Andersonstown is impressive in terms of the new accommodation, but the new service we are providing, that is the real achievement. This integrated service is at the forefront of providing real change in the social welfare system – a system that encourages people into work, provides security for those who can’t, and is at the cutting edge of customer service delivery.”

The new £7.4m facility brings together the services provided by the Social Security Agency and the Department for Employment and Learning’s JobCentre.

Employment Minister, Sir Reg Empey, said: “The new Jobs and Benefits office in Andersonstown demonstrates our continued commitment to helping people to find and keep employment. The joint effort of DEL and DSD and the resulting improvements we have made to the services we provide, demonstrates to the people of Andersonstown our commitment to delivering first class assistance with finding work or training opportunities while also ensuring that customers receive the full support of the social security system.”

The Ministers were welcomed to the new office by Aine Bradley, Social Security Agency District Manager and Tish Hegarty, District Manager of the Department for Employment and Learning. During a tour of the new complex the Ministers met staff manning the new joint service to benefit customers and jobseekers.

Notes to editors:

1. The new office in Andersonstown is one of the 27 Jobs and Benefits offices throughout Northern Ireland. There are 8 further offices to be delivered in various locations throughout Northern Ireland. The delivery of the remaining offices will be conditional on securing funding in the next Comprehensive Spending Review exercise, the outcome of which will be known by late 2010.
2. The office has 168 staff.
3. The benefit customer base includes 4749 people including sick or disabled, and lone parents. A further 2561 people are on the Jobseeker programme.
4. All media enquiries should be directed to the Department for Social Development Press Office on 028 9082 9468 or the Department for Employment and Learning Communications Branch on 028 9025 7872. Out of office hours, please contact EIS duty press officer via pager number 07699 715 440 and your call will be returned.