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Site updated:
10 February 2012
N. Ireland
Site map
Site map
Your money
Benefits
Frequently asked questions about benefits
What are tax credits and how can I get them?
I have just lost my job. What benefits am I entitled to?
I am pregnant and on benefits. What help can I get for my baby and myself?
I have just left my home and all my belongings to escape my violent partner. Can I get any financial help?
My neighbour has just come out of hospital. He's retired and seems to be finding it difficult to cope. Is there any help available for him?
I am on Income Support and would like to go back to work, but I'm worried about being able to make ends meet if I come off benefits. Can I get any extra help towards living expenses?
I receive a pension and have heard that I may be entitled to some other benefits. Where can I get more information?
My wife has recently died. I have three children and have had to give up work. Can we get any benefits?
I've recently had a baby and have heard that the Child Trust Fund has come to an end. Can I still get it? How do I claim?
Can I carry on getting my benefits if I go to live abroad?
What benefits can workers get if they come to the UK from abroad?
I am too ill to go to work. Can I get any benefits?
What benefits can I get?
Help for people on a low income - Income Support
Help for people on a low income - the Social Fund
Benefits and tax credits for people in work
Benefits for families and children
Benefits and concessions for the Armed Forces, veterans and their families
Benefits for people looking for work
Benefits for people who are sick or disabled
Employment and Support Allowance
Benefits for people over sixty
Benefits and bereavement
Help with your rates
Help with your rent – Housing Benefit
National insurance – contributions and benefits
Payment of benefits and tax credits
Problems with benefits and tax credits
Young people and benefits
Employment
Frequently asked questions about employment
Am I entitled to paid holiday?
Am I entitled to have the Bank holiday off work?
My partner is due to have a baby very soon. Am I entitled to any time off work? Will I get paid?
Can my employer force me to give back an overpayment of wages?
Does my employer need to give me a certain period of notice before he dismisses me?
Can my employer dismiss me because I am pregnant?
I think I am being discriminated against at work because I am a woman. What can I do?
What can I do about being victimised after I complained about being discriminated against at work?
I feel I am being racially discriminated against at work. What can I do?
Is there any special protection in the workplace for disabled people?
I think I'm being treated unfairly at work because of my religion, is this legal?
I'm being harassed at work because my colleagues think I’m gay. What can I do?
My contract at work says I have to retire at 60. Can they make me retire?
I’ve just applied for a job and the form asks for my date of birth. Do I have to give it? I’m afraid the company won’t look at my application if they realise how old I am.
I am under a lot of stress at work, does my employer have to do anything about this?
Self-employment: checklist
Basic rights at work
Overseas workers in the UK – agriculture and food processing
Contracts of employment
Agency workers
Agency workers – what you need to know
Additional rights for agency workers
Can your agency charge you fees
Pay between assignment contracts
Problems with pay between assignment contracts
Your agency stops giving you work
Agency workers and pregnancy
Agency workers and health and safety risk assessments when you're pregnant
Rights to pay
Off work because of sickness
Parental rights at work
Maternity leave
Age discrimination at work
Dismissal
Dismissal and benefits
Redundancy
When can your employer make you redundant
Redundancy – procedures your employer must follow
Redundancy pay
Your situation after redundancy
Bank and public holidays
Holidays and holiday pay
Young people and employment
Tax
Frequently asked questions about tax
Do I need to send in a tax return? How do I go about this?
Do I still have to pay tax now that I am over 65?
Terms used in tax information
Income tax
Income tax rates
Income tax allowances and amounts
Taxable and non-taxable income
Tax reliefs
Self assessment
Tax returns
Tax refunds
The Pay As You Earn (PAYE) system
Tax codes
Pay As You Earn: common problems
Benefits in kind
Pensioners and income tax
Help with tax problems
Inheritance tax
Money management
Frequently asked questions about debt
My debts are getting out of control and I can’t possibly pay them all. What can I do?
I have been refused credit to buy a new washing machine. What can I do?
I am going to live on my own for the first time and am worried about how to manage my budget. What can I do to prevent getting into debt?
I think someone may be using my credit card details without my knowledge. What can I do about it?
A bank that I do not normally deal with has contacted me to chase an outstanding debt. I think I may be a victim of identity theft. What should I do?
Financial healthcheck
Debt test
Help with debt
How to sort out your debts
Budgeting
How to work out your budget
How to spend less
How to increase your income
Budgeting tool
How to use the budgeting tool
Budgeting tool guidelines
Compose Budget Planner
Dealing with urgent debts
How to deal with your creditors
Debt relief orders
Managing your mortgage
Borrowing money
Types of borrowing
Plastic cards
Loans
Personal loans
Home credit (Doorstep loans)
Social Fund loans
Credit Union loans
Pay day loans
Student loans and Professional and Career Development Loans
Loan sharks
Credit sale
Hire purchase and Conditional sale
Bank overdrafts
Mortgages and secured loans
Mail order catalogues
Pawnbrokers
Getting the best credit deal
How lenders decide whether to give you credit
Your rights when you borrow money
Credit cards
How credit cards work
Choosing and applying for a credit card
The costs and charges of credit cards
Problems with credit cards
Top tips for borrowing
Banking
Getting a bank account
How bank accounts work
Joint bank accounts
Cheques
Banking – security and fraud
Your bank goes out of business
Complaints about banks and building societies
Sample letters to creditors
Guidelines for using the letter templates
Getting financial advice
Savings
About savings
Why do I need to save?
Can I afford to save and how much?
What's the best way to save
How to earn more on savings
Ways to save
Bank and building society savings accounts
Individual Savings Accounts (ISAs)
Saving with a credit union
Investing in the stockmarket
Savings bonds
Pensions
Types of pension
State Pension
Personal pensions
Workplace pensions
Starting a pension
Why have a pension
How much pension will you need
Choosing a personal pension
Nearing retirement
Preparing for retirement
Directgov guide to options in retirement
Choosing an annuity
Pensions - income withdrawal
Insurance
Illness insurance
Income protection insurance
Critical illness insurance
Payment protection insurance
Mobile phones
Mobile phone contracts
Changing your mobile phone contract
Mobile phones - Pay As You Go
Mobile phones - SIM only services
Mobile phone bills
The cost of using your mobile phone abroad
Complaints about mobile phones
Gas and electricity bills
Gas and electricity - doorstep selling
Your family
Family
Frequently asked questions about family matters
My partner has been violent to me and my children and we need to get away. What can we do?
My partner and I never got married. We've now separated and our children are staying with her. What rights do I have to see them
My girlfriend and I have been together for eight years. She's got two children. We've been talking about becoming civil partners. What would be my legal position regarding the children?
Can I change my name back to my maiden name, or to any other name?
I am a transsexual person. Can I be legally recognised in my acquired gender, and how do I go about this?
At what age can I legally drink alcohol and smoke?
How do I go about getting a divorce?
Local authority services for children in need
Children and local authority care
Birth certificates
Change of name
Child maintenance
Parent's guide to money
Living together and marriage: legal differences
Getting married
Ending a marriage
Ending a relationship when you're living together
Domestic violence
Community care
Managing financial affairs for someone else
Wills
What to do after a death
Young people and family
Health
Frequently asked questions about health
Can I complain about my doctor?
Can I change my doctor?
Can my GP remove me from their register?
Can I refuse medical treatment?
I am coming to the UK from abroad, can I get free NHS treatment?
How can I find an NHS dentist?
Where can I find information about what to do about 'swine flu?'
I think my partner's going deaf – what help can we get?
What health care can I get on the NHS?
Easy-to-read guide about your health
NHS patients' rights
Healthcare for people injured in the Armed Forces and veterans
Going abroad for dental care
HSC complaints in Northern Ireland
NHS charges for people from abroad
Help with health costs
NHS charges and optical voucher values
Young people – health and personal
Home and neighbourhood
Housing FAQs
I've received a Claim for possession from the county court because I have not paid my rent. What can I do?
I own my home but have fallen behind with my mortgage payments. I’ve heard about companies that can clear your debts, buy your home and then rent it back to you but I want to know more. Can you help?
I paid a deposit when I moved into my rented house. I have now moved out but the landlord will not return the deposit. What can I do?
I had to leave my last home and now I have nowhere to live. Does the Northern Ireland Housing Executive have to re-house me?
I have been on the waiting list for a Northern Ireland Housing Executive house for ages. What can I do to speed things up?
The house I rent is very damp. I told the landlord but she has not done anything about it. What else can I do?
I am a leaseholder and I pay an annual service charge. The freeholder wants to increase his charge to cover repairs to the building. Do I have to pay?
I rent my flat privately and the landlord wants to increase the rent. Can he do this?
I want to take out a mortgage to buy a house. What do I need to know?
I'd like to have more of a say in the running of the block of flats I live in. How can I do this?
I have an endowment mortgage and have been told that there won't be enough money at the end of the mortgage term to pay for the house. What can I do?
Finding a place to live
Finding accommodation
Young people and housing
Care homes in Northern Ireland
Housing options for people leaving the Armed Forces, veterans and their families
Squatting
Moving and improving your home
Buying a home
Selling a home
Problems with buying and selling a home
Renting a home
Tenancy agreements
Getting repairs done while renting
Information for landlords in Northern Ireland
Problems where you live
Neighbour disputes
Anti-social behaviour in housing
Mortgage problems
Managing your mortgage
Education
Frequently asked questions about education
My child is being bullied at school, what can I do?
Can my son get financial help to go to college after his GCSEs?
Can I educate my child at home?
What can I do if my daughter is expelled from school?
I have just found out my child is autistic, can she continue to go to our local primary school?
I am a wheelchair user and want to go to college after my A levels - what do I need to consider?
Types of school
Access to education
Problems at school
Help with school costs
Financial help for students aged 16-19
Financial support for higher education students
Education: organisations which give information and advice
Financial support for adult learners
Adult education: organisations which give information and advice
Help with training and qualifications for people leaving the Armed Forces and veterans
Your daily life
Communications
Frequently asked questions about communications
I’m always getting phone calls from people I don’t know. How can I stop them?
I want to buy a mobile phone but am very confused by all the different information I have read. Can you help?
My mobile phone has been stolen, what can I do?
I am going to university soon and I want to take my television with me. Do I need a separate licence?
My elderly mother says she can no longer afford her TV licence or her phone bill. Can she get any help?
I've heard I have to switch my TV over to digital. When do I have to do this by, and how do I do it? Will there be any help available?
Phone services
Mobile phones
Mobile phone contracts
Changing your mobile phone contract
Mobile phones - Pay As You Go
Mobile phones - SIM only services
Mobile phone bills
The cost of using your mobile phone abroad
Complaints about mobile phones
Problems with post
Television licences
Complaints about the press
Using the law to protect your information
Consumer affairs
Frequently asked questions about consumer affairs
Do shops have to give refunds for returned goods?
Do I have to accept a credit note for goods returned to a shop?
Someone bought me a Christmas present I don't want. Can I take it back to the shop where it was bought and get my money back?
I bought something in the sales that I want to take back, what rights do I have?
Do I have to accept goods that are not exactly what I ordered?
Can I get a deposit back if I decide to cancel the service/goods I ordered?
A builder I hired is taking a very long time to complete the work - is there any way that I can make him finish the job?
The item I have bought has a guarantee - what exactly does this cover?
How can a pre-paid card help me?
I bought an item in a sale which is faulty - can I ask for my money back?
I have been sold a faulty car but the dealer refuses to discuss the matter - what could I do next?
I bought an item from a private advertisement in a newspaper but it is faulty - what rights do I have?
I've had a personal letter telling me that I've won a prize in a lottery. How can I find out whether it's genuine or not?
Buying goods - your rights
Scams
Buying on internet auction sites
Buying secondhand vehicles
Garage repairs and services
Problems with the cost of garage repairs or service
Problems with the quality of garage repairs or service
A garage takes too long to do repairs or service
Your vehicle is lost, stolen or damaged while at the garage
How to complain about a garage
Garages – further help and contacts
Buying services - your rights
Keeping lost, found and uncollected goods
Complaints about charities
Sending money overseas
Pension and compensation schemes for the Armed Forces, veterans and their families
Insurance
Food hygiene in shops and eating places
Young people – money and consumer rights
Energy
Frequently asked questions about gas and electricity
How can I save money on fuel bills?
I find it difficult to pay my fuel bills. Is any help available?
Can my fuel supplier disconnect me?
I'm moving home, how do I change my fuel supply over?
How can I make a complaint about my fuel supplier?
Fuel costs and saving money
Gas and electricity bills
Gas and electricity - doorstep selling
Domestic heating oil - what you need to know
Saving money on heating oil bills
Setting up and running an oil club
Problems with your heating oil delivery
Problems with your heating oil supplier
You're struggling to pay your heating oil bills
Travel
Frequently asked questions about travel
When we go on our family holiday abroad, how many passports will we need?
Do I need a passport when I travel within the UK?
How much duty-free can we bring back with us from holiday?
Can I use my mobile phone in the car?
If my train is late what compensation can I get?
Air travel
Problems with holidays
Timeshare and holiday clubs
Travel abroad
Health advice for travellers
Transport options for disabled people
Driving licences
Driving tests
Traffic accidents
London congestion charge
Young people – travel and transport
Your rights
Discrimination
Frequently asked questions about discrimination
I think I am being discriminated against at work because I am a woman. What can I do?
What can I do about being victimised after I complained about being discriminated against at work?
My contract at work says I have to retire at 60. Can they make me retire?
I've just applied for a job and the form asks for my date of birth. Do I have to give it? I'm afraid the company won't look at my application if they realise how old I am.
I'm a wheelchair user and my local library is really unhelpful about helping me to get books from the shelves. Can I do something about this?
I feel I am being racially discriminated against at work. What can I do?
I think I'm being treated unfairly at work because of my religion, is this legal?
I'm being harassed at work because my colleagues think I'm gay. What can I do?
Is there any special protection in the workplace for disabled people?
Taking action about race discrimination
Taking action about sex discrimination
Disability discrimination
Age discrimination at work
Civil rights
Frequently asked questions about civil rights
My father has been living abroad for ten years and has just asked me if he can still vote in UK elections.
My mother is in hospital and will be there during the election. She's asked me if I can arrange a proxy vote for her
My neighbour has been in contact with a young woman in Portugal whom she met on holiday and wants to come to the UK as an au pair. She's been told that EU nationals don’t need a special visa. Is Portugal in the EU?
How do I complain about the way my local housing executive has handled my Housing Benefit claim?
My grandmother is going to be 100 in a couple of months and I want to be sure she gets a message from the Queen. How do I go about it?
I think I am being discriminated against at work because I am a woman. What can I do?
I'm a wheelchair user and my local library is really unhelpful about helping me to get books from the shelves. Can I do something about this?
I feel I am being racially discriminated against at work. What can I do?
I think I'm being treated unfairly at work because of my religion, is this legal?
I'm being harassed at work because my colleagues think I'm gay. What can I do?
The European Union
Human rights
Voting procedures
Government in Wales
Taking action about race discrimination
Taking action about sex discrimination
Disability discrimination
How to use an ombudsman in Northern Ireland
Messages from the Queen
Nominations for the honours list
Young people's rights
Immigration
Frequently asked questions about immigration
I'm a British citizen, and I want to marry my girlfriend who is from abroad and in the UK on a student visa. Do we need to do anything special about her status in this country?
I came to the UK on a visitor's visa and would like to stay here to do a degree. Will I be allowed to do this?
My mother is not a UK citizen and lives abroad. She lives alone and is getting quite frail and elderly. I've supported her for many years. Can I bring her to live with me in the UK?
My uncle lives in a country where there is a lot of political unrest and violence. He says he's getting afraid to leave the house, and wonders if he could come to the UK for a while until things calm down a bit
Help with immigration problems
Legal system
Frequently asked questions about legal matters
Can I claim money I am owed by taking a case to court?
I need a solicitor but I don’t have much money, what can I do?
My partner has been sent to prison - where can I get advice and information for myself and for her?
I've been summoned for jury service but have already booked to go on holiday at that time. What can I do?
I'm very busy at work - do I have to do jury service?
I've been summoned for jury service. I've been convicted of a driving offence in the past. Will it affect my serving on the jury?
Courts of law
Small claims in Northern Ireland
Help with legal costs
Using a solicitor
Personal injuries
A business takes legal action against you to recover losses for theft
Help for prisoners in Northern Ireland
Young people and the law
