Welcome to Department for Communities

To find out more about benefits, pensions, benefit fraud, welfare changes, private pensions and legislation that governs our work

Social housing providers, reform of social housing, help and advice for private rented and social housing tenants, housing legislation

Impartial information about child support maintenance for employers and advisers

Programmes that target social need through social, economic and physical regeneration of cities, towns and villages, local government reform

Sport strategy, stadiums and sports grounds, sports projects, games legacy and concussion awareness.

Libraries NI, National Museums Northern Ireland and the NI Museums Council.

Arts infrastructure and strategy, the creative industries, community festivals, architecture and built environment.

The Language Strategies team is responsible for leading on the development and delivery of an Irish Language Strategy and an Ulster-Scots Language, Heritage and Culture Strategy.

PRONI is the official archive and record office for Northern Ireland with a statutory remit to receive, preserve and make available public records and privately deposited archives.

Historic Monuments; Historic Buildings; Historic Parks and Gardens; Maritime Heritage; Industrial Heritage; Defence Heritage and Archaeology.

Statistics and research that help guide the Department on policy, planning and decision making

Policy and strategy in the voluntary and community sector, volunteering and community development advice and guidance

Active Ageing; Anti-Poverty; Disability, Gender Equality; Sexual Orientation; and the Social Inclusion Strategies.

Information on the law relating to housing, social security and child support, decisions by Commissioners on social security benefits - also information on social law

Jobseekers looking for work can get the help and support they need to find employment.

If you want to recruit the right employees for your company, or access the range of support programmes and services available to you and your staff, the Department’s Employer Services Branch can help.

Details of how Local Government & Housing Regulation Division supports councils in delivering strong and effective local government along with information on funding and finances. The Division also maintains the legislative framework for the Local Government Pension Scheme in Northern Ireland.

Appealing against decisions made by the Department, including Child Maintenance Service, and also Northern Ireland Housing Executive (NIHE), Land and Property Service (LPS) and Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC).