The Manager of Fermanagh Citizens’ Advice Bureau has warned that this week the most significant welfare reform change to date has taken place that will potentially affect thousands of people in Fermanagh.

On Monday, Mandatory Reconsideration and Direct Lodgement of appeals was introduced in Northern Ireland.

Effectively, this adds another stage to the appeals process and will have an effect on all benefits apart from tax credits and child benefit that already came under this system. Benefits including Disability Living Allowance, Income Support and most significantly Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) will be affected.

“What has been happening, up until now, when a person’s benefit claim has been disallowed, they have one month from the date of the decision to lodge an appeal. From Monday, May 23, they can’t lodge an appeal straight away. They have to go for Mandatory Reconsideration,” said Ms. Peoples.

People who are expected to be most affected will be those on ESA. ESA is paid to people who are out of work due to ill health. The benefit is used to live on, to buy food, pay for electricity and heating and any other living costs or expenses apart from rent which is covered by Housing Benefit.

Ms. Peoples said: “Last Friday, if they got a decision that their ESA was going to be disallowed, they would be given one month from that decision to submit an appeal. While that appeal is taking place, their ESA would continue. From Monday of this week, they would have to request a Mandatory Reconsideration. They can do that by telephoning the Social Security Department office dealing with their claim or contacting Fermanagh CAB for advice on what to do. With this new system, while requesting a Mandatory Reconsideration, their ESA will stop. They will have to claim another benefit. The one we consider most people previously claiming Employment and Support Allowance would be eligible to apply for is Jobseekers’ Allowance. Then whenever ESA come back and notify them of the outcome of their request for a Mandatory Reconsideration, if this request has been unsuccessful the claimant can appeal the this ESA decision. In effect, the Social Security Agency are adding an extra stage to the process.

“Up until Monday, if a person was turned down for benefits, they would start an appeal. Now the Social Security Agency has added in this extra stage to the process. They are insisting people have to go for Mandatory Reconsideration before appeal. It will cause more bureaucracy and confusion for people.”

Ms. Peoples estimates that thousands in Fermanagh could be affected. “ESA was introduced here in 2009/10, we started to see people being converted from Incapacity Benefit to ESA. Since that time, Fermanagh CAB have dealt with on average 250 to 400 tribunals each year for people who have been turned down. We can see that this may mushroom out of control. We can see it affecting thousands of people”.

“They have to act straight away and request a Mandatory Reconsideration or they will be going without money if they don’t,” Ms. Peoples warned.

Fermanagh CAB is urging clients to seek advice and support if any of their benefits stop. They can phone Fermanagh CAB on 02866324334 between 9.30 am to 1.00 pm and 2.00 pm to 3.30pm Monday to Thursday and 9.30 am to 1.00 pm on Friday. Alternatively they can e-mail Fermanagh CAB on fermanagh@citizensadvice.co.uk or fermanaghcab@citizensadvice.co.uk.

Other Welfare Reform changes are due in coming months. More information will be published regarding the changes closer to when they are to be implemented.