Citizens Advice Briefs DSD Committee

Following an invitation from the Committee for Social Development,  Citizens Advice Northern Ireland attended Stormont on the 12th February and briefed members on both The Strategic Business Review of the Social Security Agency and Funeral Payments from the Social Fund.

The Committee was interested in hearing from Citizens Advice on how the Social Security Agency’s Strategic Business Review would impact on CAB clients. The review has been subject to a period of public consultation and will affect the future of how local Social Security offices deliver services to those clients who claim social security benefits and seek work in Northern Ireland. Many of the routine face to face frontline services are planned to be replaced in favour of a telephone and associated appointments based service. To download and read the full Citizens Advice written briefing to the Committee click here.

The Committee has also raised the issue of funeral payments. These are  means tested payments for families on low income that help to pay for the costs of a funeral. Citizens Advice was able to make a number of recommendations to the Committee as well as provide an insight into the problems experienced by CAB clients accessing payments. To download and read the full written briefing to the Committee click here.

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