Council Delighted to Host Benefits Event

September 9, 2016

Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council is delighted to show its continued support for the ‘Supporting People’ campaign managed by the Department for Communities and its Improving Benefit Uptake (IBU) Team.

The focus of the event was ‘Maximising Income through the Uptake of Benefits’, which is to be rolled out across Northern Ireland. The Minister for Communities Paul Givan MLA and the Commissioner for Older People NI, Eddie Lynch spoke at the event.

Since 2013 there has been a continuous working partnership between the former Lisburn City Council and the former Department for Social Development on this issue of ensuring that residents within the area are claiming all the benefits they are eligible for.

Alderman William Leathem and Councillor Uel Mackin have spearheaded this campaign within the Council as they led the initial pilot programme in the Downshire area in 2012. In fact they won a Local Government Award in recognition of this project.

Speaking at the event, Alderman William Leathem, Chairman of the Strategic Community Planning Partnership, said: “The Council took on community planning powers in 2015 and it is keen to support this particular campaign which maximises incomes for those residents in receipt of benefits. This helps to ensure they receive the money they are entitled and therefore improving their lives; and indirectly putting money back into the local economy.

“This extra income may allow individuals to eat a balanced diet, heat their home or perhaps cover the costs of meeting friends or doing an activity to socialise within their local community. I would like to commend all those involved in getting this regional campaign underway and that will work to ensure that the vulnerable in our communities, for example the elderly and those with disabilities, are positively impacted on,” concluded Alderman Leathem.

Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council would encourage its residents to ‘Make the Call, Make the Difference’ be contacting 0800 232 1271.
Councillor Uel Mackin, Chairman of the Council’s Development Committee, added: “I am delighted with the continued partnership between the Council and the IBU Service to ensure this campaign remains important and all the monies owned to residents is claimed for their benefit. Since the pilot scheme in 2012 the campaign has been a success and there has been an increased uptake in benefits within the Council area putting around £600,000 into the pockets of local residents.

“It is important to elected representatives that their constituents have access to all the monies they are entitled to. Older residents have been known to make their pensions stretch when in fact they may be eligible for benefit support to ensure they do not suffer any hardship. Since the pilot scheme increased uptake in the Council area has resulted in correct benefit amounts being paid, which in return has impacted positively on the person and their wider family circle. By working in partnership with the Benefit Uptake Unit and community organisations I have little doubt we can encourage older people to ‘Make the Call’ and in turn exceed the £600 thousand additional benefits realised in the last campaign.”

The ‘Supporting People’ campaign will in no small way assist individuals in a society that has an ageing population, 1 in 5 having some form of disability, the presence of fuel poverty, child poverty and many other contexts that impact upon the individual, their family and the wider community.