AQW 684/22-27

Ms Claire Sugden
Independent
East Londonderry

Tabled Date: 27/05/2022
Answered On Date: 09/06/2022
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister for Communities to detail (i) the steps she has taken to alleviate financial stress on the estimated 50,000 people of pensionable age living in relative poverty; and (ii) the efforts she has made to highlight the financial support available for older people in financial difficulties who are eligible but unaware of the support available.

Answer:

My Department provides the Make the Call Service which aims to ensure that all individuals and their families are receiving the benefits, supports and services they are entitled to claim. This Service offers free and confidential needs assessments for individuals to check for entitlement to social security benefits, additional supports and services.

Make the Call also has an extensive range of partnerships with community-based organisations and other departments which extends its reach and accessibility. Sitting alongside this partnership offer, the Make the Call community-based Outreach Officers work with local community, charitable and voluntary groups, to raise awareness of potential benefit entitlements and provide practical help in accessing them.

In addition, my Department continues to work collaboratively with Age NI and other trusted key stakeholders in the community to raise awareness and seek to increase Pension Credit uptake.