Your local library will have details of local agencies that provide benefits advice. Some of these may cater for specific groups such as lone parents or ethnic minorities.

The Social Security Agency (SSA) is responsible for social security benefits. www.dsdni.gov.uk.

 

The Social Security Agency's Benefit Enquiry Line (BEL) provides general benefits advice for people with disabilities and their carers. They can also help you fill in certain claim forms.

Freephone 0800 220 674

Minicom 0800 243 787.

 

The Benefit Shop is a one-stop shop providing information and advice on all social security benefits. They will also deal with queries relating to other organisations and public services.

Phone 028 9033 6958

Textphone 028 9033 6206

Fax 028 9033 6252

Email ssabenefitshop@nissa.gsi.gov.uk

Address The Benefit Shop, Castle Court, Royal Avenue, Belfast, BT1 1DF.

 

The Disability and Carers Service is responsible for Disability Living Allowance, Attendance Allowance, and Carers Allowance.

Phone

Disability Living Allowance 028 9090 6182

Attendance Allowance 028 9090 6178

Carers Allowance 028 9090 6186

Textphone 0800 243 787

Fax 028 9033 6557

Visit or write to the office at Disability and Carers Service, Castle Court, Royal Avenue, Belfast, BT1 1HR.

 

Contact HM Revenue and Customs about tax-related matters, or to claim tax credits. Details of your local office will be in the phone book or see www.inlandrevenue.gov.uk.

Tax credits helpline: 0845 603 2000
Textphone: 0845 607 6078

 

Your local NI Housing Executive or Land and Property Services will give you advice on how to claim a rent or rates rebate.

 

You can contact your local Education and Library Board to claim education benefits.

AdviceNI is a membership organisation (for the voluntary advice sector) providing information and advice to its members. A list of its members can be found on the AdviceNI website or you can telephone or email to find out if there is an AdviceNI centre in your area.

Phone 028 9064 5919

Email info@adviceni.net

Website www.adviceni.net

 

Age Concern NI provides information and fact sheets for older people on topics such as benefits, community care and housing.

Advice line 028 9032 5055

Phone 028 9024 5729

Email info@ageconcernni.org

Website: www.ageconcernni.org.uk

Address Age Concern NI, 3 Lower Crescent, Belfast, BT7 1NR

 

Cancerbackup is a UK cancer information service for people with cancer, their families and friends. The service is staffed by specialist cancer nurses. There is a free interpreting service available for non-English speakers.
Website: www.cancerbackup.org.uk
Freephone: 0808 800 1234
Fax: 020 7696 9002
Cancerbackup, 3 Bath Place, Rivington Street, London EC2A 3JR

 

Carers NI offers advice and support for carers through its information service and support groups.
Phone 028 9043 9843
CarersLine 0808 808 7777
Email: info@carersni.demon.co.uk

Carers NI, 58 Howard Street, Belfast, BT1 6PJ

 

Citizens Advice offers free, independent, confidential and impartial advice on topics including benefits, debt and employment. The number of your local branch will be in your phone book.
Website: www.citizensadvice.org.uk
Phone 028 9023 1120

Citizens Advice, Regional Office, 11 Upper Crescent. Belfast, BT7 1NT

 

Dial UK is a national network of disability information and advice services. They offer help with benefits, mobility, equipment and many other disability-related matters.
Website: www.dialuk.org.uk
Tel: 01302 310123
Textphone: 01302 310123
Fax: 01302 310404
Email: informationenquiries@dialuk.org.uk
 

Dial UK, St Catherine's, Tickhill Road, Doncaster, South Yorkshire DN4 8QN

 

Disability Action is a pan-disability organisation offering a range of services including information and policy, training and employment support, transport and mobility assessment, training on disability issues, all aimed at improving the quality of life of people with disabilities in NI.

Phone 028 9029 7880

Textphone 028 9029 7882

Website www.disabilityaction.org

Address Portside Business Park, 189 Airport Road West, Belfast, BT3 9ED

 

Help the Aged provides a welfare rights service for older people and their carers.
Website: www.helptheaged.org.uk
Seniorline: 0808 800 6565
Northern Ireland: 0808 808 7575
Email: seniorline@helptheaged.org.uk

 

Macmillan Cancer Support provides practical, medical, emotional and financial support and campaigns for better cancer care. Website: www.macmillan.org.uk
Macmillan CancerLine: freephone 0808 808 2020 (Mon-Fri 9am-10pm)
Textphone: 0808 808 0121
Email: cancerline@macmillan.org.uk

 

Macmillan CancerLine South Asian Line is a service for South Asian people affected by cancer, available Mon-Fri 9am-6pm.
Hindi: freephone 0808 808 0100
Punjabi: freephone 0808 808 0101
Urdu: freephone 0808 808 0102

 

Macmillan YouthLine
Freephone: 0808 808 0800 (Mon-Fri 9am-10pm)
Email: youthline@macmillan.org.uk

 

Mesothelioma UK provides impartial up-to-date information for patients diagnosed with mesothelioma and their carers on a range of topics including treatments, support groups, benefits and legal advice.
Website: www.mesothelioma.uk.com
Helpline: 0800 169 2409
Fax: 0116 250 2810
Mesothelioma UK, National Macmillan Mesothelioma Resource Centre, Hospital Management Offices, Glenfield Hospital, Groby Road, Leicester LE3 9QP

 

Princess Royal Trust for Carers provides information, advice and support services to carers in the UK, including grants.
Website: www.carers.org
Tel: 020 7480 7788
Princess Royal Trust for Carers, 142 Minories, London EC3N 1LB

 

The Northern Ireland Cancer Fund for Children offers support to children and young people with cancer, and their families, throughout NI. This includes financial help with the cost of travel to their Belfast hospital, and help with the cost of home heating. This financial help is not means-tested. 

Phone 028 9080 5599

Website www.nicfc.com

Address NI Cancer Fund for Children, Curlew Pavilion, Portside Business Park, Airport Road West, Belfast, BT3 9ED.