Accessibility statement for Social Fund Budgeting loan

This page explains how accessible the nidirect Social Fund Budgeting loan service is and what is being done to improve accessibility.

Accessibility Statement

This service is part of the wider nidirect website. There’s a separate accessibility statement for the main nidirect website.

This page only contains information about the nidirect Social Fund Budgeting Loan service,

This statement applies to the Social Fund Budgeting Loan service web based application form which is accessible via the nidirect website.

This application is run by the Department of Communities. It is designed to be used by as many people as possible. The text should be clear and simple to understand.

When accessing the application through the web browser, you should be able to:

zoom in up to 400 per cent without problems
navigate most of the application using just a keyboard
navigate most of the application using speech recognition software
use most of the application using a screen reader (including the most recent versions of JAWS, NVDA and VoiceOver)

Some non-standard codes have been used in the development of this form, but these should not affect user experience.

How accessible this website is

Part of this web application is not fully accessible. For example:

Screen Readers such as TalkBack read every text in the screen that is visible, which means that field labels are being read out, whilst it would be possible to hide the field label, stopping it from being read out, it could be confusing as the text is on the screen and visible

How to request content in an accessible format

If you need information in a different format, contact us by calling Social Fund Budgeting Loan service on 0800 0224 250 and advise:

the web address (URL) of the content
your name and email address
the format you need, for example, audio CD, braille, BSL or large print, accessible PDF

Reporting accessibility problems

The Social Fund Budgeting Loan service is always looking to improve the accessibility of this application. If you find any problems not listed on this page or think they are not meeting accessibility requirements, contact the Social Fund Budgeting Loan service on 0800 0224 250 and they will investigate the issue.

Enforcement procedure

The Equality Commission for Northern Ireland (ECNI) is responsible for enforcing the Public Sector Bodies (Websites and Mobile Applications) (No. 2) Accessibility Regulations 2018 (the ‘accessibility regulations’) in Northern Ireland.

If you are not happy with how the Social Fund Budgeting Loan service respond to your complaint, contact the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland (ECNI).

Technical information about this web application’s accessibility

nidirect is committed to making its website and applications accessible, in accordance with the Public Sector Bodies (Websites and Mobile Applications) (No. 2) Accessibility Regulations 2018.

This web based application form is partially compliant with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines version 2.1 AA standard, due to the non-compliance listed below.

Non-compliance with the accessible regulations

The content listed below is non-accessible for the following reasons.

Non-compliance with the accessibility regulations.

The content that is not accessible is outlined below with details of:

the accessibility problem(s)

and

where it fails the success criteria

Operable

Level A – 1.3.1 Info and Relationships. TalkBack reads every text in the screen that is visible which means that field labels are being read out. Whilst it would be possible to hide field labels, stopping them from being read out, it could be confusing as the text is on the screen and visible.

The Social Fund Budgeting Loan service have no plans to ‘hide the field labels’ as it is not appropriate for the reasons stipulated.

Disproportionate burden

Not applicable.

Content that’s not within the scope of accessibility regulations

As a web application published after 23 September 2020, the Social Fund Budgeting Loan service is required to comply with the web accessibility regulations.

PDFs and other documents

Not applicable.

How this website was tested

This website was tested for compliance using the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.1 level A and level AA, and Microsoft accessibility guidelines. These tests have been carried out externally and independently.

This web application was last tested on 25 March 2024. The test was carried out by Expleo who used the Website Accessibility Conformance Evaluation Methodology (WCAG-EM) approach to deciding on a sample of pages to test.

What the service is doing to improve accessibility

Maintaining an accessible site is an ongoing process and the Social Fund Budgeting Loan service is continually working to offer an accessible and user friendly experience.

Preparation of this accessibility statement

This statement was prepared on 25 March 2024. It was last updated on 26 March 2024.

Cookies

When the Social Fund Budgeting Loan service provide services, they want to make them easy, useful and reliable. Where services are delivered on the internet, this sometimes involves placing small amounts of information on your computer, mobile phone or tablet. These are known as cookies. They cannot be used to identify you personally.

If you have disabled cookies or pop-ups on your browser, you will have to enable them to complete this application form.

Cookies are used to improve services for you by:

remembering your progress while you are using the online service for security purposes

Cookies Social Fund Budgeting Loan service use

When you start an application form for Social Fund Budgeting Loan Support, the Social Fund Budgeting Loan service will set cookies to remember your progress while you are using the online service.

To help you move between screens and only see the information you need, they will set cookies that personalise our service for you.

These cookies are encrypted and deleted once you have completed the session or when you close the browser.

If you do not accept their cookie policy:

If you do not want to accept their cookie policy on your own computer you can:

use an internet access device in your Jobs & Benefits office on which cookies have been accepted
request a claim form to be posted
Find out more about how to manage or delete cookies

GOV.UK services

The Social Fund Budgeting Loan service may link to some GOV.UK services which can set additional cookies and have their own cookies policies.

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What to do next

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Call 0800 587 1377

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Contact your local Jobs & Benefits office

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If your query is about another benefit, select ‘Other’ from the drop-down menu above.

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If your query is about another topic, select ‘Other’ from the drop-down menu above.

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Application and payment queries can be emailed to ema_ni@slc.co.uk

For queries or advice about employment rights, contact the Labour Relations Agency.

For queries or advice about birth, death, marriage and civil partnership certificates and research, contact the General Register Office Northern Ireland (GRONI) by email gro_nisra@finance-ni.gov.uk

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For queries about:

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contact the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA), Swansea
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contact the Driver & Vehicle Agency (DVA), Northern Ireland

If your query is about another topic, select ‘Other’ from the drop-down menu above.

For queries about your identity check, email nida@nidirect.gov.uk.

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If you wish to report a problem with a road or street you can do so online in this section.

If you wish to check on a problem or fault you have already reported, contact DfI Roads.

For queries or advice about historical, social or cultural records relating to Northern Ireland, use the Public Record Office of Northern Ireland (PRONI) enquiry service.

For queries or advice about rates, email LPSCustomerTeam@lpsni.gov.uk

For queries or advice about 60+ and Senior Citizen SmartPasses (which can be used to get concessionary travel on public transport), contact Smartpass - Translink.

If you have a question about a government service or policy, you should contact the relevant government organisation directly. We don't have access to information about you.

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Accessibility statement for Social Fund Budgeting loan