Minister announces simplified pensions claims

In one of his first moves as Minister for Social Development, Nigel Dodds has announced that pensioners will be able to cut themselves a bigger slice of the ‘benefits cake’, thanks to a new and simplified Minimum Income Guarantee (MIG) provisions.

Speaking at the launch of the new service in the Interpoint Centre in Belfast, the Minister said: "This shorter and more simplified MIG claim form and leaflet makes it easier for pensioners in Northern Ireland to apply for this benefit.”

Mr Dodds said that completion of the old form took approximately 40 minutes, but that this time had been reduced to 15 minutes.

The new name for Income Support for people aged 60 and over, MIG may be paid to those with no savings or savings of £12,000 or less, and a low weekly income.

Mr Dodds said pensioners would benefit from the improved service: "We have an ageing population, so these steps will significantly improve the living standards of tens of thousands of pensioners who reside in Northern Ireland."

Anne O’Reilly, Northern Ireland Executive with Help the Aged welcomed the launch as a “clear improvement of services for pensioners” and said it was another “positive example of excellent co-operation between the SSA and the voluntary sector”.

The Social Security Agency’s new claim form and leaflet for pensioners applying for MIG has been reduced in size from 40 pages to 10 pages with simple questions that are more easily understood.

In Northern Ireland, approximately 74,000 pensioners benefit from Minimum Income Guarantee. (SP/GB)