In May 2016 the Department for Communities was established following the restructuring of Northern Ireland Departments. It is the largest of the nine NICS Departments and work with 15 Arm's Length Bodies and number of Advisory Groups. Around 8,800 people are employed by the Department, accounting for one third of NICS employees. It has an annual budget of almost £7 billion, including expenditure of £5.9 billion on social security and pension payments
