Benefits in Belfast

Who claims in Belfast, and who may be missing out

These lines come from the Missing Money Index for Northern Ireland: claimants in Belfast (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: 9,470 claim it, against 17,348 people aged 65 and over whose day-to-day activities are limited a lot. Index 77 (100 is the Northern Ireland rate), 2,826 people short of the Northern Ireland rate. No means test.
• Carer's Allowance: 15,350 claim it, against 23,021 people giving 20 or more hours of unpaid care a week. Index 105 (100 is the Northern Ireland rate), above the Northern Ireland rate by 679 people. Not means-tested, but an earnings limit applies.
• Pension Credit: 11,910 claim it, against 47,427 people aged 66 and over. Index 128 (100 is the Northern Ireland rate), above the Northern Ireland rate by 2,619 people. Means-tested.
• Personal Independence Payment: 49,670 claim it, against 53,045 people aged 16 to 64 with a long-term condition that limits their day-to-day activities. Index 105 (100 is the Northern Ireland rate), above the Northern Ireland rate by 2,341 people. No means test.
• State Pension: 49,790 claim it, against 47,427 people aged 66 and over. Index 99 (100 is the Northern Ireland rate), 734 people short of the Northern Ireland rate. Contributory.
• Employment and Support Allowance: 19,720 claim it, against 26,781 people economically inactive because long-term sick or disabled. Index 94 (100 is the Northern Ireland rate), 1,316 people short of the Northern Ireland rate. 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 Belfast

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.

• Andersonstown Jobs and Benefits office
  580A Falls Road, Belfast, BT11 9AB · 0800 001 5782 · Andersonstown.jobsandbenefits@dfcni.gov.uk
• Falls Road Jobs and Benefits office
  19 Falls Road, Belfast, BT12 4PH · 0800 001 5782 · fallsrd.jobsandbenefits@dfcni.gov.uk
• Holywood Road Jobs and Benefits office
  106 - 108 Holywood Road, Belfast, BT4 1JU · 0800 001 5782 · holywoodroad.jobsandbenefits@dfcni.gov.uk
• Knockbreda Jobs and Benefits office
  Upper Knockbreda Road, Belfast, BT8 6SX · 0800 001 5782 · knockbreda.jobsandbenefits@dfcni.gov.uk
• North Belfast Jobs and Benefits office
  Royal Avenue, Belfast, BT1 1DF · 0800 001 5782 · northbelfast.jobsandbenefits@dfcni.gov.uk
• Shaftesbury Square Jobs and Benefits office
  107 Great Victoria Street, Belfast, BT2 7AG · 0800 001 5782 · shaftesburysquare.jobsandbenefits@dfcni.gov.uk
• Shankill Jobs and Benefits office
  15 - 25 Snugville Street, Belfast, BT13 1PP · 0800 001 5782 · shankill.jobsandbenefits@dfcni.gov.uk

Free, independent advice in Belfast

• 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.