Publications

The COVID-19 pandemic and the subsequent closure of all non-essential retail has had a devastating effect on the vitality of town and city centres across Northern Ireland.

Universal Credit is a payment for people over the age of 18 and under State Pension age who are on a low income or out of work. Some people on Universal Credit can get help with up to 85% of their childcare costs.

These Regulations provide specific protection for pension schemes and the Pension Protection Fund (PPF) during a moratorium pursuant to the Insolvency (Northern Ireland) Order 1989.

The Scheme of Emergency Financial Assistance (SEFA) is designed to aid individual householders who have suffered severe inconvenience as a result of internal flooding to their properties.

The Department for Communities (DfC) is investing £10m in the Capital Covid-19 Recovery Revitalisation Scheme which will be used in larger town and city centres, with a further £1m coming from the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) to

The Department for Communities developed the Access and Inclusion programme in 2018/19 with the aim of providing funding targeted at improving accessibility to arts and cultural venues across Northern Ireland for people with disabilities.

The Memorandum of Reciprocal Arrangements between Great Britain and NI maintains and updates the existing policy of providing a single system of social security across the United Kingdom.

COVID-19 restrictions have impacted on every thread of society here and adhering to them has had serious implications for the sport, recreation and leisure sectors.

These Regulatory Impact Assessments focus on the three main measures in the Pension Schemes Bill:

Universal Credit discretionary waivers.

Irish and Ulster Scots languages spend.

Review of Councillor pay and code of conduct.

Regional Programme board meetings and briefing.

The below document and the guidance within it have been updated as of 26 August 2020 to reflect announcements from the Northern Ireland Executive on shielding for extremely vulnerable people and face coverings.  

The food parcel initiative emerged in response to the COVID-19 emergency to ensure those who were shielding or vulnerable had access to food during the pandemic. The service is due to end on 26 June for those not shielding.

The Funeral Expenses Payment scheme provides help towards the cost of a simple funeral.

The Local Government Circular 21/2016 is designed to assist councils to meet the Performance Improvement requirements set out in Part 12 of the Local Government Act (Northern Ireland) 2014.