Government to ensure vulnerable people receive benefits

The government has today announced that they will be contacting thousands of vulnerable people over the next few weeks to make sure that they are receiving the benefits to which they are entitled.

Speaking at the launch of the Social Security Agency's Benefit Uptake Programme for 2006-07, Social Development Minister David Hanson, said: "Recent research has suggested that large numbers of people, for whatever reason, may be missing out on financial support that they badly need. I have asked the Social Security Agency to step up its benefit uptake initiatives in the coming year, looking particularly at the most vulnerable groups. It is a key priority for me to see that this problem is addressed."

The Minister continued: "The programme will involve 35,000 individuals across Northern Ireland including pensioners, carers and those with a disability. Each person contacted will be offered a comprehensive assessment of their benefit entitlement and encouraged to make a claim to the Social Security Agency."

Today's announcement follows successful pilots delivered by the Social Security Agency last year.

During this time 3,750 pensioners were invited to undergo a full benefit assessment, which resulted in a £30 weekly income boost for 10% of those participating with an additional £500k per year now being paid out to older people across the province and an extra £400k being paid out in arrears.

The government have also revealed that they are to carry out a further four separate exercises targeting 20,000 people including single female pensioners - the largest group identified through the recently published statistical report 'Income Related benefits - Estimates of Take-Up in Northern Ireland 2002/04'.

An additional 15,000 new pensioners are also to be contacted to assess their full entitlement.

Davis Hanson continued: "I would actively encourage all of those approached in this year's programme to seize this opportunity to check out if they are entitled to additional benefits. We are determined to ensure that the right benefit reaches the right people."

The Minister concluded by saying that while the programme launched today concentrates on vulnerable groups of people, the government urges anyone else who feels they may be losing out to contact their local Jobs and Benefits or Social Security Office.

(EF/GB)