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16/10/2008
Thousands Aided By Benefit Take-Up Campaign
Thousands of people in NI are now likely to be better off after being offered a full benefit assessment to identify additional benefits they should be claiming.
The Social Security Agency's Benefit Uptake Programme provided vulnerable people in Northern Ireland with additional support to claim benefits, with over 150,000 customers contacted and 22,000 customers offered a full benefit assessment to identify additional benefits they should be claiming.
Now, Margaret Ritchie, the Minister for Social Development, (pictured) has published results of the 'Benefit Uptake Programme' showing people are better off as a result.
She said: "On average people are better off by over £50 per week, an amount that can make a difference to people's lives.
"The programme resulted in an additional £8 million in benefits and arrears being generated, a welcome amount given the recent prices rises and calls for a greater focus on benefit uptake.
"Research indicates that there are still a number of people who have not claimed the support to which they are entitled and in continuing to tackle this, I launched the 2008/09 'Benefit Uptake Programme' in May.
"Given today's climate of higher costs of living," she continued, "I would like to encourage people to make sure they are not missing out on the support that is rightfully theirs.
"The Social Security Agency has worked closely with advice organisations to make contact with these vulnerable people to ensure they are receiving all the benefits to which they are entitled.
"We are heading in the right direction, but I realise there is more we can do and I have commissioned an independent review of benefit uptake activity to assess the impact of the methods used to date.
"This review will inform future benefit uptake approaches," she concluded.
The campaign continues the Social Security Agency's ongoing programme to ensure people are in receipt of all the benefits they are entitled to and since 2005, an additional £15 million of benefits and arrears has been paid to Social Security Agency clients.
(BMcC)
The Social Security Agency's Benefit Uptake Programme provided vulnerable people in Northern Ireland with additional support to claim benefits, with over 150,000 customers contacted and 22,000 customers offered a full benefit assessment to identify additional benefits they should be claiming.
Now, Margaret Ritchie, the Minister for Social Development, (pictured) has published results of the 'Benefit Uptake Programme' showing people are better off as a result.
She said: "On average people are better off by over £50 per week, an amount that can make a difference to people's lives.
"The programme resulted in an additional £8 million in benefits and arrears being generated, a welcome amount given the recent prices rises and calls for a greater focus on benefit uptake.
"Research indicates that there are still a number of people who have not claimed the support to which they are entitled and in continuing to tackle this, I launched the 2008/09 'Benefit Uptake Programme' in May.
"Given today's climate of higher costs of living," she continued, "I would like to encourage people to make sure they are not missing out on the support that is rightfully theirs.
"The Social Security Agency has worked closely with advice organisations to make contact with these vulnerable people to ensure they are receiving all the benefits to which they are entitled.
"We are heading in the right direction, but I realise there is more we can do and I have commissioned an independent review of benefit uptake activity to assess the impact of the methods used to date.
"This review will inform future benefit uptake approaches," she concluded.
The campaign continues the Social Security Agency's ongoing programme to ensure people are in receipt of all the benefits they are entitled to and since 2005, an additional £15 million of benefits and arrears has been paid to Social Security Agency clients.
(BMcC)
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