Debt Management

Debt Management’s role is to recover overpaid benefits; make deductions from benefits (except Universal Credit) for public utility debts; recover Social Security loans for Social Fund, Discretionary Support and Support for Mortgage Interest; recover overpayments in relation to Welfare Supplementary Payments, and recover benefits as a result of personal injury claims, together with any associated health services charges.

Check if you can use the online service to repay and manage benefit money you owe or contact Debt Management at the address or relevant telephone number below:

Department for Communities
PO Box 2136
Belfast
BT1 9RW

• Enquiries about recovery of overpaid benefits, including Direct Earnings attachments: 0800 587 1322
• Enquiries about deductions from benefits for public utility debts (except Universal Credit): 0800 587 2982
• Enquiries about recovery of Discretionary Support loans: 0800 587 2983
• Enquiries about recovery of Support for Mortgage Interest payments: 0800 587 2984
• Enquiries about over-payments of Welfare Supplementary Payments and over-payments of Universal Credit made to landlords: 0800 587 2985
• For enquiries about applying for a Social Fund Budgeting loan
• For enquiries about recovery of benefits for health service because of a personal injury claim and associated health service charges, see Compensation Recovery Unit

If you cannot speak or hear on the phone, you can use the Relay UK service. Dial 18001 followed by the phone number of the department you want to contact. You could also use the Relay UK app.

Opening hours

Monday to Friday, 9.00am to 4.00pm

You can also use the Debt Management online contact form.

Difficulty repaying your debt or loan

If you are suffering financial hardship or having difficulty repaying your benefit overpayment, Social Fund or Discretionary Support loan, contact Debt Management on the relevant phone number as soon as possible to talk about your repayment plan.

British Sign Language (BSL) or Irish Sign Language (ISL) 

To use the video relay service:

• contact Debt Management via the video relay service
• the interpreter will check whether you require BSL or ISL