Constituency Casework Guides
Casework Guides are produced by the Research and Information Service (RaISe) to provide impartial background information on issues that are frequently raised by constituents in constituency offices. RaISe staff are unable to provide legal advice on specific cases.
| No. | Title |
Pub Date |
| CG08 | Personal Independence Payment (PIP) Personal Independence Payment (PIP) is a benefit that has replaced Disability Living Allowance (DLA) for people between the age of 16 and State Pension age. Given that constituency offices often receive requests for support and assistance with PIP claims and appeals, the purpose of this guide is to signpost to useful sources of information and advice on PIP. |
Updated 27/09/23 (created 21/06/22) |
| CG/07 | Child Maintenance The purpose of this constituency guide is to signpost MLAs and their constituency staff to useful sources of information. It includes information on the core bodies responsible for child maintenance; sourcing information and advice for constituents and employers; accessing child maintenance data; the appeals and complaints process; and sources of independent information and advice. |
25/05/22 |
| CG/06 | Sources of Bereavement Support This Constituency Casework Guide seeks to provide advice on who to tell about a death, Social Security benefits, financial support, dealing with debt when a loved one dies, arranging a funeral, advice on what to do when a loved one dies abroad, bereavement leave, parental bereavement and support for child funeral costs, coroners and inquests, and sources of emotional and practical support. |
01/03/22 |
| CG/05 | Domestic Heating and Energy Efficiency The global energy crisis and a rise in the cost of living is impacting negatively on many consumers in Northern Ireland, particularly low-income and vulnerable households who may be struggling with household finances. Constituency offices may be experiencing an increase in constituents seeking information, advice and assistance with home heating affordability, domestic energy efficiency, debt and household finances. The purpose of this Constituency Casework Guide is to signpost MLAs and their constituency staff to existing sources of helpful information. This guide is by no means intended to be definitive. Social media is an excellent source of up-to-date information on advice and guidance and links to key Facebook and Twitter feeds are included throughout the guide. |
01/03/22 |
| CG/04 | COVID-19: Social Security and other forms of Support for Household Finances The COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a profound impact on the Northern Ireland economy. In the weeks and months ahead, constituency offices may experience an increase in constituents seeking information and advice on social security benefits, in particular Universal Credit, and other forms of support for their household finances. The purpose of this guide is to signpost constituency staff to existing sources of information on social security benefits; other forms of financial assistance that may be available; and sources of independent information and advice. |
28/10/20 |
| CG/03 | COVID-19: Housing Support The housing sector – both statutory and third sector organisations – responded rapidly to the threat of COVID-19 by producing a wide range of information sources for tenants, landlords, homeowners, those who are homeless or threatened with homelessness, social housing tenants, potential home buyers and others. The purpose of this constituency guide is to signpost MLAs and their constituency staff to key information and resources on housing, and to provide answers to some of the frequently asked questions on housing repairs, repossessions, evictions, student housing, gas safety etc. |
Updated 18/06/20
(Created 07/05/20) |
| CG/02 | Sources of Funding for the Voluntary and Community Sector The purpose of this constituency casework guide is to signpost MLAs and their staff to some of the different types of public, charitable and corporate funding opportunities that may be available to local voluntary and community sector organisations. |
Updated 19/03/21 |
| CG/01 | Welfare Changes in Northern Ireland: Key Resources for Constituency Casework The purpose of this information leaflet is to signpost MLAs and their staff to a range of relevant online information on social security and welfare reform-related issues. |
03/10/18 |
