AQW 36086/22-27

Ms Sian Mulholland
Alliance Party
North Antrim

Tabled Date: 21/11/2025
Answered On Date: 12/01/2026
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister for Communities to detail any actions being taken to reduce stigma associated with claiming social security benefits.

Answer:

My Department’s Make the Call Wraparound Service (MtC) aims to ensure that claimants receive all the benefits, supports, and services to which they are entitled. The Service provides free and confidential needs assessments to identify eligibility for social security benefits and additional supports and/or services.

Staff within MtC are committed to engaging with empathy and respect and processed 65,751 telephone calls and 12,156 home visits in 2024/25.