News

Employment Tribunal Guide

Our Employment Tribunal Guide helps employees and workers in Northern Ireland understand their rights and the steps involved in bringing forward a workplace claim.

Welcome Information Programme: Development Needs in the Community and Voluntary Sector in Belfast

Earlier this year, Law Centre NI received funding from Belfast City Council to deliver a 12-month capacity-building project for community and voluntary organisations supporting people seeking asylum in Belfast. As the first stage of the Welcome Information Programme, Law Centre NI conducted an assessment of development needs across the sector.

Law Centre NI Responds to HMRC Lifting Child Benefit Suspensions in Northern Ireland

Law Centre NI welcomes HMRC’s decision to restore Child Benefit payments after unlawful suspensions affecting NI families. We continue to press for transparency around decision-making and safeguards to prevent future harm. Contact us for free specialist advice if you are still affected.

New job opportunities at Law Centre NI

We are recruiting for the roles of 'Legal Officer (Immigration' and Caseworker (Immigration)'. Find out more about these roles as we work across all communities in Northern Ireland to fulfil our vision that we all live in a more just and equal society.

New Blog: Reflections on the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty

Read about our reflections on International Day for the Eradication of Poverty.

Cliff Edge Coalition Briefing Paper

In advance of the Opposition Day debate taking place tomorrow (Tuesday 14th October 2025), the Cliff Edge Coalition have published a briefing paper on the Anti-Poverty Strategy and the Mitigations Package.

Refugee facts and statistics: Northern Ireland briefing resource

This briefing resource is developed and updated regularly by Migration Justice at Law Centre NI using statistics datasets released quarterly by the Home Office.

Legal Briefing: Important Changes in understanding of the Competent State.

Recent case law has clarified how the Department for Communities (DfC) decides the “Competent State” for paying Attendance Allowance, Carer’s Allowance, DLA (Care), and PIP (Daily Living). Previously, receiving an EEA pension could block payment, but rulings—most notably SP v DfC (Sept 2023)—confirm the UK can pay even when claimants get a foreign Invalidity Pension. DfC applied this change only from August 2025, delaying payments for many.

Adviser Guide: Foster Carers, Kinship Carers, Adopters and Care Leavers

This guide helps advisors support foster carers, kinship carers, adopters, and care leavers who receive benefits. It explains how foster caring and related payments can affect benefit entitlement and calculations, including restrictions or increases depending on circumstances. While the focus is on Universal Credit, it also covers other benefits and includes information relevant to adoptive parents. The guide concludes with guidance for care leavers and their entitlement to Universal Credit.

New Blog: An Anti-Poverty Strategy for Northern Ireland 2025-35

Read about our reflections on the NI Executive's draft Anti-Poverty Strategy 2025-35.

Universal Credit Claim Closures

The judiciary has repeatedly recommended that Universal Credit stop using the term ‘claim closure.’ This briefing reviews two Upper Tribunal judgments from Great Britain, illustrating the issues the terminology creates for both claimants and the Department.

Changed Communication relating to Universal Credit New Claims Grant

DfC is progressing with the managed migration of ESA claimants to Universal Credit, due for completion by April 2026. The Law Centre NI welcomes efforts to improve awareness of the New Claims Grant, a non-repayable payment to support new UC claimants awaiting their first award, though uptake remains low and some receive loans instead during the legacy benefit run-on period.