The SSA deal with the benefits given to people who may be unemployed, supporting children under 16, unemployed with medical conditions etc. Their main goals are to:
Assess and pay social security benefits accurately and securely
Give advice and information about these benefits
Handle reviews and appeals
Prevent and detect benefit fraud, prosecute offenders and recover any benefit which has been paid incorrectly
Recover benefit which has been paid in compensation cases
Assess people’s financial circumstances if they are applying for legal aid
Location
The SSA's headquarters are located on the Stormont estate, close to Parliament Buildings. Their service extends to all of Northern Ireland, but also to 3 districts within London through back-office services on behalf of the Department for Work and Pensions.