Court Service to Take Over Social Securty Appeals

On 1st April 2010 the Appeal Service (NI), the body responsible for the administration of Social Security and Child Support appeals in NI, will transfer to the Northern Ireland Court Service under a secondment arrangement.

The Department for Social Development will still retain responsibility for the administration of the Appeal Service's budget until April 2011. It is likely that, by that time, the devolution of policing and justice will have resulted in new legislation and that the Court Service will take over on a permanent basis.

For anyone seeking to appeal a social security benefit or child support decision should there should be no practical difference.