We have compiled some information that may help you during the COVID-19 crisis. We are unable to provide advice regarding health or Coronavirus symptoms. If you are worried about either of these issues you should contact your GP or NHS 111.
Coronavirus Community Support
There have been some changes to the benefit system as a result of COVID-19. Find out about how it may impact you.
Find out information about vulnerable workers, Statutory Sick Pay, Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme and help for the self-employed.
Find out information on how you can get food delivered if you are unable to leave home to do this yourself.
If you're worried about topping up electricity or heating your home we have some information that can help.
There are different ways that you can get medicine and your prescription if you can't leave home.
Our Money and Debt Team have put together some helpful FAQs around financial issues during the COVID-19 crisis.
Get Local Advice
Advice NI’s Helplines remain open
We will not be providing face-to-face advice or training for the foreseeable future. We will contact existing advice clients by phone. Our staff will continue to support our members and can be reached via telephone and email as usual.
We are working hard to move our training, where possible, to digital. For any queries, please contact our training team at training@adviceni.net
Helpline contact details:
Welfare Changes ring 0808 802 0020 or email welfarechanges@adviceni.net
Tax & Benefits ring 0800 988 2377 or email tax@adviceni.net
Business Debt ring 0800 083 8018 or email bds@adviceni.net
Debt Action ring 0800 028 1881 or email debt@adviceni.net
EU Settlement Scheme ring 0800 138 6545 or email euss@adviceni.net
For Historical Institutional Abuse advice and support call 02890 645919 email hia@adviceni.net
How we’ve helped people
Working for change
Universal Credit and Redundancy Payments
Fears are growing about a huge job loss spike in NI as the Government ‘furlough’ scheme winds down. Read the latest briefing paper from our policy team - Universal Credit and Redundancy Payments.
COVID-19 Support
Listen to our Head of Policy, Kevin Higgins, who spoke to Linda McAuley on On Your Behalf about how vulnerable people can get support during the COVID-19 crisis.
Upcoming Training
Anytime Online - Wiseradviser - Understanding and Supporting Clients in Vulnerable Circumstances (NI)
This course looks at what vulnerability is, and introduces ways to identify, safeguard and support clients in vulnerable circumstances. It should be followed by the face to face (live-online) course 'Understanding & Supporting Clients in Vulnerable Circumstances'...Anytime Online - Wiseradviser: FCA: The Impact on Consumer Credit Regulation so far
In 2014, the Financial Conduct Authority took over responsibility for regulating consumer credit from the Office of Fair Trading. Find out more about changes in guidelines and legislation.Anytime Online - Wiseradviser - Standard Financial Statement
This course introduces you to the Standard Financial Statement (SFS) and how to use it with your clients when giving them debt advice. It is suitable for advisers of all levels of experience.Anytime Online - Wiseradviser - Get Started with the Common Financial Statement
The CFS is a simple tool that you can use to make debt repayment offers to creditors. This course covers the principles that underpin the CFS, the budget format, and how to use it.Anytime Online - Wiseradviser - CASHFLOW: How to use the tool Effectively
These resources are designed to help you to understand how to use CASHflow to support your clients. You can use them on their own or in combination with MAT’s dedicated training website for CASHflow.Anytime Online - Universal Credit and Self-Employment – Updated for COVID-19
This pre-recorded course is available online now to access anytime. It provides a concise, practical awareness session for how Universal Credit works for the self-employed, updated to include information on services and adjustments available to those impacted by COVID-19.
Latest News
'THINK' policy newsletter - August 2020
28 August 2020 - 14:07
The Advice NI Policy Team is delighted to publish our latest edition of our policy eNewsletter ‘THINK’.'THINK' policy newsletter - July 2020
31 July 2020 - 09:59
The Advice NI Policy Team is delighted to announce that our policy eNewsletter ‘THINK’ is back'.Advice NI urge people advised to ‘shield’ due to the pandemic to take action now to avoid missing out
27 July 2020 - 16:18
Almost 100,000 people with underlying diseases or health conditions received a ‘shielding’ letter advising that the safest course of action was to stay at home...
About Advice NI
The Independent Advice Network is here to help you improve the quality of your life.
We offer information, advice, advocacy and representation on:
