Study into increasing take up of Rate reliefs

"An issue which emerged during the recent review of domestic rating was that the level of take up of rate relief among the elderly, particularly those in the owner occupied sector, was poor. Following that review, the Minister announced that, as a first step to addressing this problem, the Department would engage with the community and voluntary sector to undertake a study aimed at identifying actions that might be taken to support Government awareness and take-up strategies.

Help the Aged and Age Concern were subsequently commissioned to carry out this study. The organisations used Access to Benefits for Older People (‘A2B’) to undertake the research for them. The study examines a wide range of issues. Its focus was originally to be on rate relief but inevitably it also looked at housing benefit (which includes what is often referred to as rate rebate) and its findings have relevance to other support measures.  The study also looks at take up of the Disabled Persons Allowance scheme (DPA).

In undertaking the study, A2B engaged with a number of representative organisations, including Advice NI, the Rural Community Network, Disability Action, the Older People’s Policy Forum and the Older People’s Consumer Panel, as well as statutory bodies such as Land & Property Services and the Northern Ireland Housing Executive.

A report setting out the results of this study is attached below. The report is currently with the DFP Committee, prior to the Minister deciding how best to take forward the recommendations set out within it."