Benefits in Mid and East Antrim

Who claims in Mid and East Antrim, and who may be missing out

These lines come from the Missing Money Index for Northern Ireland: claimants in Mid and East Antrim (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: 5,410 claim it, against 6,772 people aged 65 and over whose day-to-day activities are limited a lot. Index 113 (100 is the Northern Ireland rate), above the Northern Ireland rate by 610 people. No means test.
• Carer's Allowance: 4,880 claim it, against 8,747 people giving 20 or more hours of unpaid care a week. Index 88 (100 is the Northern Ireland rate), 694 people short of the Northern Ireland rate. Not means-tested, but an earnings limit applies.
• Pension Credit: 3,720 claim it, against 25,679 people aged 66 and over. Index 74 (100 is the Northern Ireland rate), 1,311 people short of the Northern Ireland rate. Means-tested.
• Personal Independence Payment: 14,470 claim it, against 17,861 people aged 16 to 64 with a long-term condition that limits their day-to-day activities. Index 91 (100 is the Northern Ireland rate), 1,466 people short of the Northern Ireland rate. No means test.
• State Pension: 27,270 claim it, against 25,679 people aged 66 and over. Index 100 (100 is the Northern Ireland rate), 86 people short of the Northern Ireland rate. Contributory.
• Employment and Support Allowance: 6,310 claim it, against 7,231 people economically inactive because long-term sick or disabled. Index 111 (100 is the Northern Ireland rate), above the Northern Ireland rate by 630 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 Mid and East Antrim

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.

• Ballymena Jobs and Benefits office
  2 Parkway, Ballymena, BT43 5ET · 0800 001 5782 · ballymena.jobsandbenefits@dfcni.gov.uk
• Carrickfergus Jobs and Benefits office
  Davys Street, Carrickfergus, BT38 8DJ · 0800 001 5782 · carrickfergus.jobsandbenefits@dfcni.gov.uk
• Larne Jobs and Benefits office
  59 Pound Street, Larne, BT40 1SB · 0800 001 5782 · larne.jobsandbenefits@dfcni.gov.uk

Free, independent advice in Mid and East Antrim

• 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.