food poverty; assessing the potential impact of welfare reform; exploring the reasons behind the growth in food banks and suggesting discussion points for the way forward.
Advice NI maximised every opportunity to influence policy including engaging with a range of consultations such as meeting Dr Paul Litchfield in respect of his ESA: Work Capability Assessment Year 4 Review; responding to Future Arrangements for Consumer Representation in NI; engaging throughout the year on Rate Rebate Replacement Arrangements; and responding to Tax-Free Childcare proposals.
Advice NI has been a key member on the NIASC / SSA Operational Forum and the Disability Consultative Forum which discussed key issues affecting frontline advice agencies including the progress of Incapacity Benefit / Income Support (IB/IS) reassessment; communication with SSA benefit processing centres; issues associated with the Employment & Support Allowance including the Work Capability Assessment and the role of the Agency’s Health Assessment Adviser.
Following concerns about HMRC’s decisions regarding claimant’s single status, Advice NI staff visited the HMRC tax credits centre in Liverpool where decisions are made regarding ‘Potential Undisclosed Partners’. The visit resulted in a greater shared understanding of the issues and recognition by HMRC staff of the possible shortcomings of relying solely upon credit reference agency data to determine a claimant’s relationship status.
Advice NI also continued to be represented on the Northern Ireland Standards Committee, chaired by Eileen Evason, in relation to the Social Security Agency and the Child Maintenance Service. In summary the Committee is charged with providing assurance that the internal arrangements for monitoring the quality of decision making are robust; identifying any areas of potential weakness; and providing advice and support in order to secure improvements.
Other key pieces of work throughout the year included leading a delegation of Advice NI members to meet with ATOS Healthcare and SSA staff in relation to issues arising from the Work Capability Assessment; attendance at political party conferences; preparations for the SSA’s Financial Support Service trial; and speaking at a number of key events including the Pensioner’s Parliament; local government representatives meeting; and participation in the Social Development Committee’s stakeholder meeting on housing in Northern Ireland.
Kevin Higgins, Head of Policy, Advice NI 20
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