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Put Older People and Children First

Assembly Committees told to 'put older people and children first' in bid to tackle poverty in NI'

Many older people are living below the poverty line while support for basics such as food and clothing for school children are left unclaimed. This is the key message presented by Advice NI to two Assembly Committees this week.

Speaking before giving evidence to the Social Development Committee and the OFMDFM Committee Enquiry into Child Poverty, Kevin Higgins Head of Policy and Research, Advice NI said:

"Poverty and in particular child poverty is a scourge affecting Northern Ireland. Official statistics highlight that there are around 327,000 people, including 102,000 children living in poverty in Northern Ireland. The shame is that many people in need are not accessing the support to which they are entitled."

Mr Higgins went on to say:

"Latest official figures estimate that amongst older people take-up of Pension Credit may be as low as 49% by caseload and as low as 60% by expenditure. Take up of Job Seekers Allowance (Income Based) may be as low as 61% by caseload and 65% by expenditure. These figures highlight that people across Northern Ireland are loosing out on entitlements which would make a real difference to their lives.

"School children are also loosing out by not accessing entitlements in respect of free school meals and clothing allowances. In our view it is a scandal that children from low income households are missing out on the opportunity to have a nutritious and healthy diet."

Advice NI is the membership organisation for independent advice centres in Northern Ireland and their latest statistics highlight that 57% of all enquiries (over 120,000) are from people who need help sorting out their benefits. In 2007 Advice NI took part in benefit uptake campaigns in partnership with the Social Security Agency targeting 7,500 people. Similar exercises in 2006 generated over £6million in benefit unclaimed entitlements.

The Assembly is currently conducting enquiries into child poverty and the issue of benefit uptake. Advice NI has been invited to give evidence to both the OFMDFM Committee and Social Development Committees on these issues.

Mr Higgins concluded:

"On a daily basis people are contacting advisers for help to sort out their benefit entitlement. These are people who are often living below the poverty line as they are not being paid their proper rate of benefit.

The reasons for this are varied but include the complexities of the benefit system, a lack of awareness about entitlement, the fear of doing something wrong and often a stigma attached to claiming benefits.

While successful targeted benefit uptake initiatives are beginning to address this unacceptable situation, Advice NI is calling for more commitment and increased resources to tackle the benefit uptake issue on a wider scale."

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