FOR YOUR BENEFIT WORKS FOR FERMANAGH!

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FOR YOUR BENEFIT WORKS FOR FERMANAGH!

1 Mar 2010

Northern Ireland Electricity and Citizens Advice Bureau in Enniskillen this week celebrated the ongoing success of the NIE ‘For Your Benefit’ programme. ‘For Your Benefit’ is a valuable service which offers people across Northern Ireland the chance to have a free, confidential benefit check done to ensure they are receiving all of the benefits they are entitled to. The scheme also provides energy efficiency advice to help customers reduce their energy usage.

Since summer 2008, over 5500 benefit entitlement checks have been completed and according to Jenny Boyd, NIE Energy, the scheme has made a real difference for many families and individuals across Northern Ireland. Jenny says, “We are working with a range of partners to help target as many of our customers as possible with this service. Last year our partners helped to identify approximately £4.5million of additional benefits and over 2000 people saw their benefits rise by an average of £39 per week. This extra money can make a significant contribution to a household’s income, and the energy efficiency checks that are being carried out in tandem have helped pinpoint ways that further savings can be made in terms of household energy bills.”

‘For Your Benefit’ is delivered in partnership with a range of organisations across Northern Ireland including, Advice NI, Barnardos, EAGA, Extra Care, RNIB, Citizens Advice and the NI Energy Agency.

Siobhan Peoples from Fermanagh Citizens Advice Bureau says the first year results are very encouraging. “We are delighted so many of our clients have taken advantage of the NIE ‘For Your Benefit’ service. For many Co. Fermanagh people and their families, additional benefits can considerably raise their standard of living, making life that bit easier. Most of our checks are carried out via the telephone through a very straightforward process but we can also cater for face to face checks at our Broadmeadow Place offices.”

For Your Benefit will run until 2010 and NIE hopes the scheme will be able to help around 12,000 people across Northern Ireland .

To find out more about ‘For Your Benefit’ visit www.nie-yourenergy.co.uk and click on Free Benefit Entitlement Check. For Your Benefit is funded by Northern Ireland Electricity and managed by NIE Energy.