Outsourcing giant Capita has signed a deal with the Northern Ireland Social Security Agency under which it will provide the organisation with assessments for country's new personal independence payment (PIP).
Under the £65m contract, Capita will make assessments of new claiments of PIP, as well as of claimants of Disability Living Allowance (DLA), which PIP is replacing.
The contract follows the company's win earlier this year when it was awarded the contract to deliver PIP assessments across central England and Wales.
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Capita plc chief executive, Paul Pindar, said: "Capita consulted extensively with representative groups to design a fair and claimant-centred assessment service and is committed to ongoing dialogue to ensure continual development during implementation and throughout delivery.
"Through strategic acquisitions to its health and wellbeing business, Capita has established a wealth of assessments capability and access to multi-disciplinary teams of health professionals. These factors will ensure claimants receive a fair and independent assessment of their ability to live independently."
PIP is part of the government's reform of the welfare system and will officially replace DLA in April 2013.
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