New Benefits Adviser

I have heard a lot about a Benefit Adviser on the NIDirect website. Me, being me, I decided to give it a go.

Step 1 www.nidirect.gov.uk

Step 2 Click on Money Tax and Benefits

Step 3 Try our Benefits Adviser

Step 4 Start Benefits Adviser

And off we go.

The beauty of this Benefits Adviser is that it is anonymous for those who rather they didn’t input personal details. It allowed me to answer questions as if the questions refer to me or someone else. This means I will be able to check things out for my brother who is an adult with disabilities and my soon to be 80 year old auntie and my soon to be out of university and unemployed 23 year old son.

When I got in to the About you section I thought “oh dear” or words to that effect. The system asked for my date of birth. So much for anonymity, but I gave them a dodgy one of someone the same age. I suppose they needed that to get an idea of how old I was. And then I continued…

One of the things I like about this site; it tells me how many questions I have to answer about me at the top of each section. The number of questions can vary from section to section depending on previous answers. If I don’t understand a question then there is a little guide-link under the question to explain things a little clearer.

The most important thing about this site for you is that you must give correct information about your circumstances. If you inadvertently say you have 6 children but only have 5, for example, then that will put the calculations out.

I spent a good 30 minutes going through the site several times. Each time I went through the questions I became more and more familiar with what was being asked of me. I must confess I did try a few outrageous examples, with equally outrageous results but it all helped me to understand a new system that will add yet another opportunity for people who want to find out more about their benefits.

Remember this system is not here to replace benefit offices or anything else that is already available to everyone. This system is here to add another string to the bow. To complement Independent Advice Centres, and Benefit Offices who will continue to provide a quality service to people like you and me.

The biggest plus for me? When all the shops are closed, office staff have gone home and there is nothing worth watching on television, I can sit by the fire laptop in hand and ask the Benefit Adviser to check out my aunt, my son and my brother.

The online system, will help people who are housebound; people who want to help friends and relatives; people from the shy and the curious to the professional. Please don’t forget it is here to help you to help yourself.