Advice NI Response - OISC Consultation
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.
Advice NI Consultation Response: Request for Data to Inform the Department of Health Audit of Inequalities – Data Collection Stage
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.
Response Investigating future provision for victims of violence
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”
Advice NI Consultation Response: Cuts to the Discretionary Support Scheme Draft Equality Impact Assessment
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 Consultation Response: DfC Budget 2023-24 Equality Impact Assessment
Advice NI notes with deep concern that the Department of Communities is faced with unprecedented funding challenges and cuts in 2023-24
Advice NI Consultation Response: DfC Equality Action Plan
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’).
Advice NI response to the Work & Pensions Committee Inquiry
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.