Opposition to Social Security office closures

Opposition to Social Security office closures

12 October 2016

PUBLIC meetings are taking place as part of a district-wide campaign to oppose the proposed closure of Social Security offices in Newcastle and Ballynahinch.

The first was held last night at the Newcastle Centre and another will take place at the Market House in Ballynahinch tomorrow night at 7pm. The meetings have been organised by trade union, NIPSA.

Ahead of last night’s meeting in Newcastle, councillor Willie Clarke warned the closure of the resort’s Social Security office has “dire consequences” for the most vulnerable, revealing staff fear they could lose their jobs and have concerns about the implications of redeploying to work elsewhere.

“The primary concern in all of this should be the claimant and as we head into further economic uncertainty and hardship, Communities Minister Paul Givan should ensure these closures are not realised,” he declared. “Social Security offices are a vital service which will no doubt act as a further assistance to people as we face into darker economic uncertainty due to the Brexit result.”

The future of the Ballynahinch office was discussed recently at a meeting at Stormont when Strangford MP Jim Shannon and Rowallane councillor Billy Walker met with Mr Givan. 

Along with Strangford MLA Philip Smith, they have appealed to people who use the office to respond to public consultation on its future, and the politicians are keen for people to attend tomorrow night’s public meeting.

Politicians are concerned that asking people who use the Ballynahinch office to travel to Lisburn, Downpatrick or Knockbreda in Belfast will impact on already busy offices and place an unnecessary financial burden on claimants.

It was confirmed last week that over the past four months, 12 Jobseekers Allowance staff based at the Ballynahinch office dealt with over 2,000 cases, with many more people meeting with careers advisers or job section staff to find work.

Councillor Walker is urging people to attend tomorrow night’s public meeting to send a clear message to the Department of Communities that the Ballynahinch office must remain open.

“This particular office provides a service to people who are vulnerable and its closure will have a major impact on what is a rural community,” he declared. “The community this office serves contains a large number of people who have literacy issues which means staff must spend longer with these clients.”

Councillor Walker added: “Staff have built up a rapport with these people and to move them to a new office would be detrimental to their mental health. To put the financial burden of travelling to another office on to constituents is simply not acceptable. The Ballynahinch office provides an essential service and must be retained.”