Publications

Advice NI Consultation Response on changes to the Office of the Immigration Services Commissioner's fee structure and issues affecting migrants/refugees/asylum seekers in NI.

In January 2024, the Department of Health (DoH) issued a call requesting data to inform their audit of inequalities. In our response to this call for data about health inequalities, Advice NI chose to focus on ‘Help for health service charges’ provision which has been an ongoing area of concern for quite some time.

Advice NI contribution to ongoing research: “Investigating future provision for victims of violence and those at risk/under threat of violence including victims of domestic abuse within the Northern Ireland Housing Selection Scheme”

Due to an inadequate budget allocation, creating a Departmental budget shortfall of £111.2m, the Department for Communities has, as part of a range of measures, scaled back funding for the Discretionary Support scheme which provides emergency grants and loans for people on a low income who are in an extreme, exceptional or crisis situation.

Advice NI notes with deep concern that the Department of Communities is faced with unprecedented funding challenges and cuts in 2023-24

Advice NI calls on the Department to ensure that the work and impact of the independent advice network is explicitly included within the DfC Equality Action Plan (in addition to the reference to the ‘Fundamental Refresh’).

Health assessments for benefits including Personal Independence Payment (PIP), Employment and Support Allowance (ESA), Disability Living Allowance (DLA), Attendance Allowance and Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit.