The minister said: “Research has identified that there is still a number of people who appear not to have claimed the support to which they are entitled. This support is rightfully theirs and it is essential that these people receive it.”
One year into her post as Minister for Social Development, Margaret Ritchie has launched a further campaign by the Social Security Agency during a visit to the Windsor Women's Centre, in the Village area of South Belfast.
115,000 people across Northern Ireland will be contacted to make sure they are not missing out on benefits. 25,000 people will be offered a full benefit assessment, which is an increase from 2007/08 when 22,500 people were offered this support. The Agency will invest £750,000 in its drive to target older people and families. This highlights the Social Security Agency’s continued work to increase the uptake of benefits by those who are eligible but not claiming.
The minister said: “I am encouraged by the fact that 44% of those contacted responded to last year’s programme. This is higher than before and confirms that this proactive approach by the Social Security Agency does work. My new programme for 2008/09 will bring the total investment for targeted exercises to almost £2million over four years. I have also commissioned an independent review of Benefit Uptake activity to take stock of the achievements and assess the impact of the methodologies used to date. The Review will be completed in the Autumn and will inform future Benefit Uptake approaches.
“We are heading in the right direction but I realise we can do more and I am determined to ensure that there are no barriers to stop people from getting the support they deserve and are entitled to.”
Notes to Editors:
The 2008/09 Programme builds on the success of previous uptake activity which resulted in an additional £7million of benefit being paid to Social Security Agency clients. Reports such as the “Income Related Benefit – Estimates of Take-up in Northern Ireland 2004/2006" provide further evidence of increasing levels of benefit uptake and demonstrate that initiatives being taken forward by the Agency are having a positive impact. The final results of the 2007/08 Programme will be published later this month.
Further news media enquiries to DSD Press Office tel. 02890 829497 or out-of-office-hours contact the EIS Duty Press Officer on 07699 715440.
Picture of launch at Windsor Women’s Centre Belfast available from Houston Green Photography houstongreen@utvinternet.com
