Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
8,000 sick missing out on £3,000
MLA Mallon exposes benefits blunder
SEVERELY disabled people are among 8,000 claimants who have each been shortchanged by £3,000 in a “scandalous” benefits blunder.
The “shocking” error was revealed yesterday by SDLP deputy leader Nicola Mallon.
The underpayments – which happened during the move from Incapacity Benefit, Severe Disablement Allowance and Income Support to Employment and Support Allowance – date back seven years.
North Belfast MLA Ms Mallon said: “The fact some 8,000 ESA claimants here have been underpaid an average of £3,000 each as a result of another benefit blunder is scandalous.
“There is no question this error has forced people further into poverty.
“The lives of vulnerable claimants are tough enough without being denied the support they are entitled to for seven years.”
Department for Communities confirmed the error in a letter to Ms Mallon dated April 4.
It said: “The work with DWP [Department for Work and Pensions] recently concluded that just over 8,000 Northern Ireland ESA claimants may be affected by this error with the average amount of arrears due estimated to be £3,000 per affected claimant.”
But DFC did not reveal the situation voluntarily and only admitted the failure when probed by the SDLP.
It also told Ms Mallon officials would contact those people affected after a special review team for the underpayments.
Ms Mallon added: “The Department must set out clearly how and when those affected will be paid what they are owed.
“This is another stark example of how people are being failed and forced to endure hardship with no local Minister and Assembly in place to protect them and hold people to account.
“This Tory welfare system has been bedecked with failure after failure with the Government only responding when forced to by High Court rulings or damming independent reports.
“It is further proof, if at all needed, that the system is fundamentally flawed.”
A spokesperson for DFC said: “All claimants who are impacted will be contacted directly. In line with the DWP approach, we will aim to complete a review of all affected cases by April 2019.”