The Northern Ireland Advice Services Consortium (Law Centre (NI), Advice NI and Citizens Advice) and Northern Ireland Council for Voluntary Action welcome the work currently being done in the Assembly to progress the issue of welfare reform.

Welfare reform will bring the biggest change to our welfare system in 60 years. It will bring positive changes for some, but it also has the potential for serious negative consequences on vulnerable benefit claimants, as claimants and decision-makers move to an entirely new system.

The Consortium and NICVA have put together a briefing explaining our joint position on welfare reform. The briefing, Welfare Reform in Northern Ireland, makes suggestions in two key areas: sanctions and independent advice.

Read it here: Welfare Reform for Northern Ireland