More financial help if you get Universal Credit

Important information if you have received a Migration Notice letter

If you have received a Migration Notice letter telling you that your benefit or tax credits is ending, note that the eligibility rules for Universal Credit may be different from your existing benefit or tax credits.

You may lose access to some benefits if you don’t claim Universal Credit.

You can seek independent advice before making a claim to Universal Credit to make sure this is the best decision for you, by contacting Advice NI

Help while waiting on your Universal Credit payment

You will get your first Universal Credit payment about five weeks after you send your claim and you will receive payments twice a month.

If you do not have enough money to live on, you can apply for: 

• a Universal Credit Contingency Fund short term living expenses grant - you do not have to pay this back
• a Universal Credit Advance loan - you will have to pay this back from your Universal Credit payments
• a Budgeting Advance loan - you will have to pay this back from your Universal Credit payments
• Discretionary Support - this is an interest free loan or a grant

More information on this support is available at Help while waiting for a Universal Credit payment. Contact Universal Credit through your online account or speak to your work coach at your local Jobs & Benefits office.

Make the Call Service

Check if you are getting all the benefits, services and supports you are entitled to by contacting Make the Call.

Personal Independence Payment

You can claim Universal Credit and  Personal Independence Payment (PIP) at the same time.

Other benefits you may be able to get

You may be entitled to other benefits, for example:

• Carer’s Allowance
• Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit (parts of Constant Attendance Allowance and Exceptionally Severe Disablement Allowance may not be included)
• Maternity Allowance
• State Pension
• Widowed Parent’s Allowance
• New Style Jobseeker's Allowance
• New Style Employment and Support Allowance

Further financial support

You may also be eligible for other financial support.  Further information, including how to apply, is given below.

Adviser Discretionary Fund (ADF)

If you are unemployed and you are facing financial barriers to starting or returning to work, or if you are employed or self-employed and are facing financial difficulties your local Jobs & Benefits office may be able to help you with upfront childcare costs, travel to job interview costs and other expenses, through the Adviser Discretion Fund.

Rate Rebate

Universal Credit does not include an amount for rates but, if you are entitled to Universal Credit and you live in your own property or a rented property, you can apply for a Rate Rebate.  You can’t apply for Rate Rebate if you live in supported accommodation.

Support for Mortgage Interest

If you are a homeowner and you get Universal Credit, you may be able to get help towards your mortgage interest payments.  You will need to pay this money back, with interest, when you sell or transfer ownership of your property. More information is available on support for mortgage interest 

Help with Health Costs

You may be able to get help with dental, optical and travel costs if you receive Universal Credit. 

You will not get this help automatically. You will need to complete a Help with Health Costs HC1 form and post it or take it to your local Jobs & Benefits office.

To post your HC1 form, send to:

Freepost, UNIVERSAL CREDIT NORTHERN IRELAND

The Freepost address should be printed on a single address line and no additional address details should be included. Envelopes addressed in any other way may not be delivered.

You will not get help with these costs until after you send the form and get confirmation that you are eligible.

If your application is successful, you will be issued a certificate which will entitle you to either:

• full remission of health costs for a 12 month period (HC2 certificate)
• partial remission of health costs for a 12 month period (HC3 certificate)

​​​​HC2 and HC3 certificates are valid for 12 months. 

To keep getting help with health costs, you will need to complete a new HC1 form before your HC2 or HC3 certificate expires.

You can also get an HC1 form by going to your local Jobs & Benefits office or by calling the helpline on Freephone 0800 012 1331.

More information on Help with Health Costs

Free School Meals and School Uniform Assistance and Transport

To claim free school meals or for help with school uniforms you should apply online at Education Authority (EA) Northern Ireland website.  If you get Universal Credit, you will need to provide your most recent Universal Credit Claimant Statement.

More information is available on Nutrition and school lunches and School uniform and uniform grants.

Some children may be able to get help with home to school transport from the Education Authority (EA).  Children with disabilities or special educational needs may also receive extra help.  More information, including how to apply, is available at  School transport

Pre-School Application Process

Parents applying for a pre-school education place who are eligible for Universal Credit can claim priority because of social disadvantage.

You can apply online for admission to pre-school at Education Authority admissions

You can also request a paper form by emailing preschooladmissions@eani.org.uk or contacting the Admissions Helpdesk (028) 9598 5595.

Applicants who get Universal Credit will need to provide their most recent Universal Credit Claimant Statement.

Healthy Start Scheme

If you get Universal Credit, your family can get access to free vitamins and vouchers towards milk, fruit and vegetables through the Healthy Start Scheme.

More information, including how to claim is available at Healthy Start Scheme.

Sure Start Maternity Grants

If you receive Universal Credit, you may be eligible for a one-off £500 payment to help with the costs of a new baby. You do not have to pay this back.  More information, including how to claim is available at Sure Start Maternity Grant.

Winter Fuel Payment

If you are eligible for the Winter Fuel Payment, you do not need to do anything. Payments will start to be issued in November 2024.  All payments will be made before the end of January 2025.

Cold Weather Payments

You may be eligible for a Cold Weather payment if:

• you get Universal Credit
• you are not employed or self-employed, and either
  • you have a health condition or disability and have limited capability for work (with or without work-related activity)
  • you have a child under five living with you

You will also be eligible if you have a disabled child amount in your claim, whether you are employed or not.  More information, including how this payment is made is available at  Cold Weather Payments

Low cost broadband and phone service

If you get Universal Credit and you have zero earnings you may be able to get help with your broadband and phone costs.  

Legal Aid

If you get Universal Credit, you may be able to get legal aid as well as legal advice and help, prison visits and exemption from court costs.  More information including how to apply is available at Legal aid.

Funeral Payments

If you receive Universal Credit and are arranging the funeral of someone you have had a close relationship with, you may be able to get a Funeral Expenses Payment.

More information on eligibility and how to apply is available at Funeral Expenses Payments.

Child Funeral Fund

The Child Funeral Fund is a one-off lump sum payment available to everyone in Northern Ireland regardless of their financial status, to help families with the cost of a funeral following the death of a child under 18 or a still birth after 24 weeks. 

Information on how to apply is available at The Child Funeral Fund

Council run services

Your local council may offer reduced rates for some services.

How to print your Universal Credit Statement

If you get Universal Credit, and you need to provide your most recent Universal Credit Claimant Statement.

This video explains how you can print a copy of a Universal Credit statement from your Universal Credit account.