Infl uencing Policy


Strategic Aim 3 To infl uence policy and decision making on


behalf of our members and those who rely on their services


Advice NI has continued to engage proactively on a range of policy priority areas on behalf of members and service users. Policy priority areas were identifi ed at the beginning of the year and included welfare reform and a statutory right to independent advice, food banks and tax credits.


In terms of welfare reform several highlights throughout the year included assistance with the production of the Northern Ireland Advice Services Consortium (NIASC) publication ‘Why Advice Matters: Welfare Reform and the Value of Independent Advice’ which was launched in the NI Assembly Long Gallery in July 2013; presentation to the NI Assembly All Party Group on Mental Health; and assistance with the production of a ‘No Cost, Low Cost’ mitigation paper explaining measures that could be put in place to alleviate the most harmful impacts of welfare reform.


Advice NI has continued to call for a clause to be added to the Welfare Reform Bill placing access to independent advice on a statutory footing and has met with the Social Security Agency (SSA) Chief Executive to discuss changes to the mandatory reconsideration proposals which would allow Employment & Support Allowance (ESA) claimants to continue to receive ESA during the mandatory reconsideration process.


Signifi cant progress was made in highlighting the growth of food banks in Northern Ireland with the production of a research report entitled ‘Turning the Tide’. This report aimed to explore issues such as defi ning


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