190 Pension Centre jobs for Derry

Derry is to receive a jobs boost after the announcement that the Social Security Agency is to provide 190 jobs in the creation of a new Pension Centre in the city.

The new centre, which is still subject to final commercial negotiations and approvals, will be located in a former shirt factory at Carlisle House, Hawkin Road. It will share the processing of claims for State Retirement Pension and State Pension Credit, which replaces Minimum Income Guarantee, with the existing pension service in Windsor House, Belfast.

Announcing the news, Social Development Minister, Nigel Dodds, said:

“The new centre is another giant step towards modernising services to pensioners. We aim to have two main pension centres - one east of the Bann in Belfast and one west of the Bann in Londonderry.”

Mr Dodds, continued: “The new State Pension Credit is due to commence in October 2003. It will increase the number of pensioners in Northern Ireland entitled to benefit from just fewer than 76,000 to more than 90,000. The new service will support pensioners, tackle poverty and reward work and savings in retirement. It will ensure that pensioners, who are growing in number, have easy access to all benefits and other services to which they are entitled."

The Minister also spoke of the economic benefits of the investment to the wider Derry area, and how successful regeneration can put properties back into use.

He added: "Regeneration is not just about smart new buildings; it is about restoring and re-using existing properties. Londonderry is a model example of how this can work with a number of former shirt factories now playing their part in the modern economic life of the city.”

(CL)