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NEWS
Parents urged to extend Child Benefit claims as deadline approaches
With GCSE results being released this week, HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) is reminding parents of teenagers to extend their Child Benefit...
19 hours ago
Find out if you’re entitled to free school meals and help with uniform costs in Northern Ireland
More than 93,000 children and young people across Northern Ireland are currently receiving free school meals — is your child one of them?...
Jul 10
More NI families to qualify for free school meals and uniform grants as income threshold increased
Low-income families across Northern Ireland will receive enhanced support from the 2025/26 academic year, as Education Minister Paul...
Jul 8
Robin Swann MP opposes welfare cuts in support of amendment to halt Universal Credit and PIP Bill
South Antrim MP Robin Swann Ulster Unionist Party MP Robin Swann has firmly opposed the Government’s Universal Credit and Personal...
Jun 24
Winter Fuel Payment reinstated for Northern Ireland pensioners, confirms Minister Lyons
Communities Minister Gordon Lyons Communities Minister Gordon Lyons has confirmed that pensioners across Northern Ireland will receive...
Jun 10
Communities Minister welcomes u-turn on winter fuel payment restrictions
Northern Ireland’s Communities Minister Gordon Lyons has welcomed a major policy reversal by the UK government which reinstates broader...
Jun 9
Parents of teens reminded to extend Child Benefit claims online before deadline
Parents and guardians of teenagers aged 16 to 19 are being reminded by HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) to extend their Child Benefit claims...
May 31
Communities Minister urges full reinstatement of Winter Fuel Payment amid welfare reform concerns
Communities Minister, Gordon Lyons Northern Ireland’s Communities Minister, Gordon Lyons, has issued a robust call for the full...
May 21
Child Benefit boost for millions of families
Families who claim Child Benefit will see an increase in their payment next week, says HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC). From 7 April 2025,...
Apr 1
Government must review Benefits decisions - Swann
Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall Ulster Unionist South Antrim MP Robin Swann has responded to today’s (Tuesday 18 March) Labour...
Mar 18
Payment date for £100 fuel support payment announced by Minister Lyons
Communities minister Gordon Lyons has announced the payment date for the £100 fuel support payment for pensioner households. The payment,...
Mar 12
Statutory Sick Pay reforms to boost living standards and economy across the UK
More than one million working people throughout the United Kingdom are set to experience an uplift in their living standards due to...
Mar 5
‘Move to UC’ begins for Income Support recipients
The next stage of the ‘Move to Universal Credit (UC)’ has begun for those in receipt of Income Support. The ‘Move to UC’ involves moving...
Feb 17
Minister for Communities’ ‘zero-tolerance approach’ to benefit fraud
Communities minister Gordon Lyons Communities minister Gordon Lyons has outlined his ‘zero-tolerance approach’ to benefit fraud in a...
Feb 11
Leading older person’s charity welcomes Minister’s decision on Winter Fuel Payments
Local leading older person’s charity Agewell Partnership has welcomed the decision by Minister for Communities, Gordon Lyons to issue...
Nov 19, 2024
Check you’re not missing State Pension payments
During Pensions Awareness week, HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) is urging tens of thousands of people to check if they are eligible to...
Sep 12, 2024
Restrictions to Winter Fuel Payment will be introduced in Northern Ireland
In a written Ministerial Statement, the Communities Minister Gordon Lyons today informed Assembly Members of changes to the Winter Fuel...
Aug 30, 2024
Decision to limit the Winter Fuel Payment is disappointing - NI Communities Minister
Northern Ireland Communities minister Gordon Lyons has described the Chancellor’s recent announcement on cuts to the Winter Fuel Payment...
Jul 30, 2024
Don’t lose out – extend Child Benefit for your 16–19 year-old now
More than a million parents will receive reminders to extend Child Benefit for their teenagers if they are continuing their education or...
Jun 16, 2024
Income threshold raised for accessing free school meals and uniform grants in NI
Education Minister Paul Givan has announced an interim change to the eligibility criteria for families applying for free school meals and...
Jun 7, 2024
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