Benefits in Ards and North Down

Who claims in Ards and North Down, and who may be missing out

These lines come from the Missing Money Index for Northern Ireland: claimants in Ards and North Down (2025, Department for Communities) divided by the people the benefit is for in the 2021 Census. It is a take-up index, not a count of who is eligible: the Census holds no income. The lowest line is the one to ask about.

• Attendance Allowance: 7,080 claim it, against 8,597 people aged 65 and over whose day-to-day activities are limited a lot. Index 116 (100 is the Northern Ireland rate), above the Northern Ireland rate by 986 people. No means test.
• Carer's Allowance: 5,710 claim it, against 10,743 people giving 20 or more hours of unpaid care a week. Index 83 (100 is the Northern Ireland rate), 1,136 people short of the Northern Ireland rate. Not means-tested, but an earnings limit applies.
• Pension Credit: 4,110 claim it, against 34,229 people aged 66 and over. Index 61 (100 is the Northern Ireland rate), 2,596 people short of the Northern Ireland rate. Means-tested.
• Personal Independence Payment: 15,770 claim it, against 19,798 people aged 16 to 64 with a long-term condition that limits their day-to-day activities. Index 89 (100 is the Northern Ireland rate), 1,895 people short of the Northern Ireland rate. No means test.
• State Pension: 36,290 claim it, against 34,229 people aged 66 and over. Index 100 (100 is the Northern Ireland rate), 174 people short of the Northern Ireland rate. Contributory.
• Employment and Support Allowance: 6,390 claim it, against 7,626 people economically inactive because long-term sick or disabled. Index 107 (100 is the Northern Ireland rate), above the Northern Ireland rate by 400 people. Income-related ESA is means-tested; contributory ESA is not.

If you are over 66 and not claiming, start with Attendance Allowance and Pension Credit; if you care for someone, Carer’s Allowance. Or run the free check for Northern Ireland and see everything at once.

Jobs and Benefits offices in Ards and North Down

Where you make and manage a claim in person. Details as the Department for Communities’ own pages give them (read 2026-10-15); opening hours are on each office’s page. The appointment line for every office is 0800 001 5782.

• Bangor Jobs and Benefits office
  110 Hamilton Road, Bangor, BT20 4LQ · 0800 001 5782 · bangor.jobsandbenefits@dfcni.gov.uk
• Newtownards Jobs and Benefits office
  East Street, Newtownards, BT23 7EL · 0800 001 5782 · newtownards.jobsandbenefits@dfcni.gov.uk

Free, independent advice in Ards and North Down

• Advice NI: the independent advice network, with members in every council; freephone 0800 915 4604.
• Make the Call: the Department for Communities’ own benefit entitlement check, 0800 232 1271.
• Age NI for anyone over 60: 0808 808 7575.

About these figures

Claimants by council are from the Department for Communities (NISRA table BSLGD); the groups they are set against are from the 2021 Census (NISRA). The method, caveats and all eleven councils are on the Index for Northern Ireland. Office details come from communities-ni.gov.uk and are re-read when this page is rebuilt. Last built 15 October 2026. Other councils: Northern Ireland by council. Across the border: Ireland by county.