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Income, benefits and money

Older people with piggy banks Here you can read useful information about income, money and benefits. Select a topic to find out more.

Social Security offices

You can get a wide range of advice and information on benefits and what you might be entitled to at your local Social Security office. They can also carry out a home assessment on request if you're unable to attend one of their offices due to disability or illness.

Their advisors can also come out to groups to give talks on benefits on request (ask for the manager).

To find contact details for your local Social Security or Jobs and Benefits office, visit the nidirect website

Benefits and grants

Pension

You are eligible for state retirement pension once you reach state pension age. It is based on national insurance contributions either made by yourself or your partner.

For more information about pensions, contact the Pensions Service on 0845 601 8821 or visit the nidirect website

Pension credit

If you've reached the minimum qualifying age you may be entitled to Pension Credit - extra money each week.

You may be entitled to Guaranteed Credit if: If you or your partner are aged 65 or over you could be entitled to the Savings Credit element if either of the following applies to you: For more details, call the Pension Credit enquiry line on 0808 100 6165 or textphone 0808 100 1165. Open 9.00am to 5.00pm Monday to Friday.

Attendance allowance

Attendance Allowance is a tax-free benefit for people aged 65 or over who need help with personal care because they have a physical or mental disability.

You may get Attendance Allowance if: Attendance Allowance is not usually affected by any savings or income you may have. If you are under age 65, you may be able to get Disability Living Allowance.

For more information about how to apply, contact your local Social Security office or visit the nidirect website

Community Care grant

If you need financial help to live independently in the community or to ease exceptional pressure on you and your family you may be able to get a Community Care grant. You don't have to pay it back.

For more information about Community Care grants and how to make an application, visit the nidirect website

Budgeting Loan

You may be able to get a Budgeting Loan if you or your partner have been claiming or getting payment for one of the following benefits for at least 26 weeks: and you need help to pay for any of the following: For more information or to make an application, contact your local Social Security office or visit the nidirect website

Funeral Payments

If you're on a low income and need help to pay for a funeral you're arranging, you may be able to get a Funeral Payment from the Social Fund. You might have to repay some or all of it from the estate of the person who died.

You may be able to get a Funeral Payment but it depends on the benefits you're getting, your relationship with the person who died and any other money (other than your personal savings) that may be available to help with the cost of the funeral.

For more information or to make an application, contact your local Social Security office or visit the nidirect website

Crisis Loan

A Crisis Loan is an interest-free loan which can provide help in an emergency or disaster.

To make a claim, contact your local Social Security office or call the Crisis Loan claim line freephone number on 0800 028 8822. A Social Fund officer will process your claim over the telephone.

Cold weather and winter fuel payments

From 1 November to 31 March the Department of Social Development can announce cold weather payments. These are made to help meet heating costs during periods of very cold weather. The payment is paid automatically by the Social Security Agency to qualifying groups.

Seniors can also apply for a winter fuel payment from the Social Security Agency. These are available to people receiving a state pension or certain benefits, as well as those in employment, if they are eligible.

Visit www.nidirect.gov.uk to check if you are entitled to a payment. If you or someone you know qualifies for this payment, you can use this money to purchase some of our 'Be Warm' oil savings stamps

Housing Benefit and rates relief

People on low incomes, including pensioners, may be able to get help with their rent and rates through the Housing Benefit scheme.

You should apply if:
  • you have capital or savings of less than £16,000 and are on low income or wage
  • you are claiming benefits such as Income Support, income-based Job Seeker's Allowance, Employment Support Allowance (Income Related) or Pension Credit
Land and Property Services administers the scheme for people who own and occupy their own home and the Northern Ireland Housing Executive (NIHE) administers the scheme for those who rent their home.

For more information about the Housing Benefit scheme and how to make an application, visit the nidirect website

Disabled Persons Allowance scheme

If you own your own home and you are, or someone else in your household is, a person with a disability, you may be entitled to a reduction of 25 per cent in your domestic rate bill, through the Disabled Persons Allowance scheme, which is administered by Land and Property Services (LPS).

In order to qualify for this your property must have been adapted to meet the needs of a person with a disability who lives in your home.

To apply, the person who pays rates on the property must submit an application form which is available from Land and Property Services. Call 101 or 028 9151 3101 to request a form.

Lone Pensioner Allowance

If you're over 70 and live alone you may be eligible for the lone pensioner allowance, which gives eligible pensioners a 20% discount on their rates.

This scheme applies to people who are over 70 and live alone and pay rates for their home. It isn't means tested so it doesn't depend on income or savings.

If someone else lives with you, you may still be entitled to the allowance, subject to certain conditions, for example, if they are providing care to you and are not a disqualified relative.

If you are an owner occupier and want to find out more, phone Land and Property Services on 101 or 028 9151 3101.

If you rent your home, contact the Housing Executive on 0844 892 0902.

Disable Facilities Grant

A Disabled Facilities Grant is provided by the Northern Ireland Housing Executive (NIHE) to help to improve the home of a person with a disability, and may be based on the recommendation of an occupational therapist.

To make an application, contact your local Health and Social Services Trust, who will answer your questions, start the process and contact the Housing Executive. You can also speak to your GP or social worker.

Carers Allowance

You may be eligible for Carer's Allowance if you are aged 16 or over and you spend at least 35 hours each week caring for someone who is ill or has a disability.

To make a claim, call the Benefit Enquiry Line on 0800 22 06 74 and ask them to send you a claim pack.

Managing personal finances

Paying bills

With rising cost of living in Northern Ireland it may be useful to do a budget plan. Look at your income compared to outgoings on a weekly, monthly, quarterly and yearly basis, to make sure that you are able to budget and keep on top of bills coming in.

Make a list of all your sources of household income and how much you get from each. For example, wages, state pension, pension credit, personal pensions, benefits, allowances or other income.

List your household expenses. These might include rent or mortgage, rates (if applicable), life insurance, buildings or contents insurance, car insurance, car tax, servicing, TV rental and licence, telephone, electricity, heating, clothing, food, housekeeping, home repairs, transport costs, entertainment, Christmas and holidays, saving policies, loans and repayments. For items that are paid quarterly, yearly, or ad hoc, calculate how much you would need to save each week or month to pay for these.

If most of your income is weekly then you might want to budget weekly. Where possible, spread the cost of big bills over the year. To do this you could pay some bills by monthly direct debit or have a separate bank, post office, or building society account that you can regularly put money into which will be used to pay for big yearly bills.

If your outgoings and expenses are greater than your income you might want to get advice on how you could increase your income. For example, are there allowances or benefits that you may be entitled to that you are not currently claiming for?

For information on paying electricity, oil or gas bills, visit our heating your home section

Home repairs and insurance

For advice on financial support for home repairs and advice on insuring your home, visit our housing section

TV licensing

If you are aged 75 or over you are entitled to a free TV licence. The free licence won't be issued automatically, you still need to apply for it.

The TV licence reminder includes details of how to apply along with an application form for the free over 75 license. If you are 74 you can apply for a special short term license that lasts until you are 75.

For more information, call the TV Licensing helpline on 0300 790 6073.

Opening a bank account and setting up a direct debit

To open a new bank account you will normally be asked for:
  • identification (for example, a current valid passport, driving licence or electoral voting card)
  • proof of your address (for example, a utility bill issued within the last 6 months, current driving licence, credit card statement, rates bill issued within the last 12 months or a house or motor insurance certificate).
Once you have a current account you can set up a direct debit very easily. You'll need to ask your bank or building society for a direct debit form, fill it in and send it back to your bank or building society.

The direct debit form will ask for information such as your account details including the sort code, name of person or organisation that you wish the money to be transferred to, date that you want the direct debit to begin or end and what day in the month you wish the money to be taken out of you account each month, and finally the amount you want to be transferred.

To cancel a direct debit you'll need to write to your bank or building society and give details of your account number, the direct debit you wish to cancel and the date that you wish the direct debit to be cancelled from.

Dealing with debt

Debt can affect anyone at different stages in life. There are many causes of debt. Some of the reasons we get into debt are outside our control, for example, the death of a partner, redundancy, illness, or poverty. Often we deny or refuse to accept that we are in debt and have feelings of panic, hopelessness, shame and depression.

If you feel you're at risk of losing control of your financial affairs or already have, then it's important that you deal with this immediately.

Making a will

Writing a will allows you to plan what will happen to your money and possessions after your death.

Age NI's publication called 'Will to Change' contains information on a wide range of issues including the importance of making a will, appointing an executor, inheritance tax, beneficiaries, legacies, storing your will and updating your will. Age NI also works in partnership with local solicitors who help to run free legal clinics for older people and offer advice and will-writing services at a reduced rate.

To register your interest in attending an Age NI Legal Clinic and to find out more, or to request a free copy the Will to Change publication, contact Age NI on 028 9024 5729.

Avoiding scams

Scams can be sent to you through the post, by email or over the phone. They all have one thing in common - to make money by taking your money. Be aware, scams often share similar features that may alert you to the fact that they are not genuine.

Remember, if it sounds too good to be true it probably is.

If you think you have been the victim of a scam, report it to the police immediately.

For further advice, contact your local PSNI Crime Prevention Officer on 0845 600 8000.

Preparing for retirement

It's important to think about what finances you'll have before you come to retirement age, the sooner the better.

To help you assess what income you will have when you retire you can do a number of things.
  • You can ask the Pension Service for a forecast of what state pension you would be entitled to based on your National Insurance contributions
  • If you have a private pension or a pension at work ask the insurance company this is taken out with for a forecast of your income from this pension when you reach retirement age
  • Assess if there are any additional sources of income you will have such as other policies
  • When you retire you may be entitled to benefits that would also contribute to your income.
If you feel the yearly income from the above won't be enough to maintain the kind of lifestyle that you would like when you retire, you could also consider putting more money aside each month to contribute to your retirement or carrying on working past the standard retirement age.

You might also want to get advice from a financial advisor to help you make important financial decisions that will affect your future. The Financial Services Authority produces a wide range information about financial products and services. You can also get advice from your local Citizens Advice Bureau

For more information, visit the Pensions and Retirement Planning section of the nidirect website

Income, money and benefits fact sheet

This fact sheet contains information about benefits, grants, paying bills, and preparing for retirement.

Seniors info

Download the income, money and benefits fact sheet (Word - 116KB)