PRESS RELEASE
COMMITTEE FOR SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT
18 March 2010
SD/13/09/10
BENEFIT PROCESSING CONCERNS RAISED DURING COMMITTEE VISIT
The Northern Ireland Assembly Committee for Social Development today visited the Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) processing centre in Belfast. The Committee has heard evidence that the transition from incapacity Benefit and Income Support to ESA has for many claimants been unnecessarily lengthy and complex. It has also been suggested that not enough is being done to facilitate claims from people with autism.
Committee Chairperson, Simon Hamilton, MLA said: “The Committee recognises that UK-wide changes to benefits, including the introduction of ESA, are beyond the control of the Department for Social Development. Nonetheless, the Committee expects the Department to put necessary measures in place to ensure that vulnerable claimants can manage the transition from the old benefits to the new.
The Committee wants people with autism to be identified at the application stage; to be provided with Plain English information and given access to a third party advocate if this is required. The Committee welcomes some recent changes made by the Social Security Agency in this regard.”
“ Mr. Hamilton continued: “The Committee believes that visits like this serve to remind the Department and the public that the Committee is dealing with the issues that matter and making sure that government agencies deliver the front-line services necessary.”
The Social Development Committee expects to seek formal written and oral feedback from stakeholders on further reforms to benefits during its consideration of important primary legislation after Easter.
Further information on the Social Development Committee can be found at: http://archive.niassembly.gov.uk/social/2007mandate/socialhome_07.htm
Ends
The Committee for Social Development membership is:
Mr. Simon Hamilton MLA (Chairperson)
Mr. David Hilditch MLA (Deputy Chairperson)
Mr. Billy Armstrong MLA
Mrs. Mary Bradley MLA
Mr. Mickey Brady MLA
Mr. Thomas Burns MLA
Mr. Jonathan Craig MLA
Mr. Alex Easton MLA
Ms. Anna Lo MLA
Mr. Fra McCann
Ms. Carál Ní Chuilín MLA
The Clerk of the Social Development Committee is:
Peter McCallion
Northern Ireland Assembly
Phone: 028 90 521864
Mobile : 07825141294
Email: peter.mccallion@niassembly.gov.uk
Media enquiries to:
Jennifer Pleavin
Communications Officer
Northern Ireland Assembly
Phone: 028 9052 1606
Mobile : 07502 379339
Email: jennifer.pleavin@niassembly.gov.uk
Sinead Murphy
Deputy Communications Officer
Northern Ireland Assembly
Phone: 028 9052 5938
Mobile : 078 998 64368
Email: sinead.murphy@niassembly.gov.uk
