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  • Benefits and pensions

    To find out more about benefits, pensions, benefit fraud, welfare changes, private pensions and legislation that governs our work

    contents

    Benefits

    The Department provides help and financial support if you are unemployed and looking for work. It also provides you with additional income when your earnings are low, if you are bringing up children, are retired, care for someone, are ill or have a disability.

    • A to Z of benefits
    • Administrative Welfare Supplementary Payments
    • Benefits and pensions - how to apply

    Benefit fraud

    The Department has a responsibility to detect and investigate benefit fraud and customer error.

    • Benefit fraud
    • Benefit fraud - the cost and results
    • New fraud and error powers

    Pensions

    The Department administers all aspects of State Pension for the people of Northern Ireland. It is also responsible for the implementation of the new State Pension system which was introduced on 6 April 2016.

    • Benefits and pensions - how to apply
    • General benefits information
    • Pension information

    Private pensions

    We are responsible for the formulation and development of policy and legislation on private pensions in Northern Ireland.

    Decision Making

    Guidance to assist decision makers or stakeholders within the advice community on the interpretation of Social Security and Child Maintenance Legislation.

    • Decision Makers Guide for Child Maintenance
    • Decision Makers Guide
    • Decision Makers Guide memos

    Social security legislation

    An electronic version of the printed volumes 'The Law Relating to Social Security for Northern Ireland' (The Blue Volumes).

    • Social Security Electronic Communications Direction
    • The law relating to Social Security in Northern Ireland (Blue Volumes)

    Welfare changes

    The Welfare Reform (Northern Ireland) Order 2015 is introducing many changes to our current benefit systems. It will see many of them scrapped, with new benefits and payment systems introduced.This section provides details of each of the new changes.

    • Welfare changes overview
    • Welfare changes impact assessments
    • The Independent Welfare Change Helpline

    Welfare changes briefing and evaluation framework

    This area contains analysis and research which details the potential impact to the Northern Ireland population and provides an evidence base for Welfare Changes.

    Benefits statistics

    Analytics Division provides statistics on social security benefits in Northern Ireland. Statistics on all main benefits are provided in the pages below.

    • Benefit Cap statistics
    • Benefits statistics summary
    • Pension Credit statistics

    Make the Call (MtC)

    Improving the uptake of benefits by people who are entitled but not claiming is a key priority for the Department for Communities (DfC).

    • DfC Supports and Advice Services

    Related to Benefits and pensions

    Most recent publications

    • Personal Independence Payment (PIP) Daily Living Activity Scores Statistics - April 2025

      Published 9 July 2025
    • The Social Security (Claims and Payments) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2025 and The Social Security (Electronic Communications) (Amendment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2025 - screening

      Published 9 July 2025
    See all publications in this topic

    Most recent consultations

    • Consultation on Pathways to Work: Reforming Benefits and Support to Get Britain Working Green Paper

      Published 25 March 2025 Consultation closed
    • Pensions Investment Review: Unlocking the UK pensions market for growth

      Published 12 December 2024 Consultation closed
    See all consultations in this topic

    Most recent news items

    • Lyons welcomes opportunity to secure share of benefit fraud savings

      Published 7 July 2025
    • Fine imposed for benefit fraud

      Published 7 July 2025
    See all news in this topic

    Access to information

    How to request information from the Department for Communities including Freedom of Information (FOI) and the use of our Publication Scheme. You may also request your own personal information, via a Right of Access Request.

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