Welfare changes

Key changes

The benefits which will have the main impact are:

• Universal Credit: visit nidirect for more information  
• Social Sector Size Criteria / Bedroom Tax: Housing Executive or nidirect 
• Benefit Cap: visit nidirect for more information
• Personal Independence Payment (PIP): visit nidirect for more information 
• Employment and Support Allowance (ESA): visit nidirect for more information 

The government’s website, nidirect, has details of all the changes being made and how they may affect you.

Welfare Changes Helpline

If you need help or independent advice about any of the changes to the welfare system then contact:

• Welfare Changes Helpline: Tel 0808 802 0020 (9.00 am to 5.00 pm)

The freephone helpline is available to anyone needing help, or advice, about changes to the welfare system. It is operated by Advice NI as part of a range of additional services provided by the advice sector (Advice NI and the Law Centre NI.

Independent Advice Services

• Advice NI: Visit website or phone
  •  0800 028 1881 for money/debt advice 
  • 0800 988 2377 for tax/benefits advice
• Housing Rights Service: Visit website or phone 028 9024 5640
• Law Centre NI: Visit website or phone 028 9024 4401

Advice for Housing Executive tenants

There is more information in ‘My Housing Executive’.