SSA abandons plans to move staff from Downpatrick office

SSA abandons plans to move staff from Downpatrick office

21 November 2012

THE Social Security Agency has abandoned plans to transfer staff from its Downpatrick office out of the district as part of a radical shake-up of services.

But plans to downgrade the status of the Agency’s offices in Newcastle and Ballynahinch are to go ahead as planned, although both will remain open and continue to provide a range of services.

It was announced in June that staff working in all three local offices responsible for processing income support and jobseekers allowance payments would transfer out of the area to either Lurgan or Newry as part of a centralisation policy.

But in the wake of major political pressure, it’s been confirmed there will be no reduction in staffing levels at the Downpatrick office which employs 43 people.

While the Mount Crescent base will no longer process income support and jobseekers allowance payments, staff responsible for this aspect of the service will remain and retrain to provide enhanced services under the social fund umbrella.

A number of staff currently based in Newcastle will be moving to Downpatrick to provide social fund services, while Agency staff in Ballynahinch responsible for processing income support and jobseekers allowance payments are to transfer to Newry.

A member of staff based at the Downpatrick office has welcomed the decision not to reduce the workforce by transferring people out of the town.

“While we are pleased with the decision regarding the Mount Crescent office, our thoughts are with our colleagues in Newcastle and Ballynahinch,” said the staff member.

“The Downpatrick office was initially earmarked as a new benefit processing centre and we always thought that would happen, but the proposal fell by the wayside and then last June it was announced that some of our staff would have to work in Newry or Lurgan due to major restructuring. Such a move would have left the entire East Down area without a major social security presence.”

The employee explained staff in Downpatrick will continue to provide a raft of front line services including processing social fund benefits, face-to-face interviews with clients and those seeking the jobseekers allowance. The Mount Crescent office will also deal with crisis loan applications, people claiming unemployment benefit and advice for lone parents.

“A number of staff currently based in Newcastle are coming to Downpatrick and our staff previously responsible for income support and jobseekers allowance will retrain to provide social fund services.

“We believe common sense has prevailed and there was a recognition that the East Down area could not be left without a major social security office to provide services for local people,” suggested the member of staff.

“We are grateful to all our local politicians who fought our case and who played a key role in ensuring that staff at the Downpatrick office, many of whom are women with young families, do not have to travel outside the district to work.”

The decision to retain jobs in the Downpatrick office has been welcomed by South Down MP Margaret Ritchie and local MLA Chris Hazzard.