Extra help to make or maintain your Universal Credit claim

You can get help to claim Universal Credit and get other support if you have additional needs.

If you need an interpreter

If you need an interpreter to help you make your claim to Universal Credit you can request this through your online account, or by contacting the Universal Credit Service Centre or your local Jobs and Benefits office.

If you have a health condition

Visually impaired

If you are unable to claim Universal Credit online due to your visual impairment, you can claim by contacting the Universal Credit Service Centre. You may also be entitled to further financial support for people with disabilities.

Hearing difficulties

If you have hearing difficulties, you can contact the Universal Credit Service Centre using the British Sign Language (BSL) video relay service or the Irish Sign Language (ISL) video relay service. Alternatively, you can call the Service Centre on Text-phone 0800 012 1441.

Motor impairments

If you have a motor impairment that would impact your ability to make and maintain your Universal Credit claim online, you can claim by contacting the Universal Credit Service Centre.

Other health conditions

If you have any other health conditions, including disabilities, mental health conditions, cognitive or learning difficulties which may make it hard for you to claim Universal Credit, contact the Universal Credit Service Centre.

Unsure what benefits you can get or need digital help

To make sure you receive the benefits you may be entitled to, contact Make the Call Service and speak to a benefit adviser.

If you would like independent help and advice on Universal Credit or any other welfare changes, you can visit any independent advice office like Advice NI or Housing Rights NI.

You may also be able to get free access to a computer and internet in your local library.

If you are unable to use the internet you may be able to make a telephone claim by contacting the Universal Credit Service Centre.

If your circumstances mean you need more support

If you are a Care leaver

A care leaver is a person who has been in the care of a local authority or Health & Social Care Trust (HSCT).

If you are a care leaver you may be able to make an online claim to Universal Credit. You should claim as soon as possible to make sure you receive the correct support.

If you do not have anywhere to live or need help with housing when you leave care see the paragraph on homeless below, or you can find housing support online.

If you are impacted by Domestic Violence

If you receive Universal Credit and experience domestic abuse, you can contact Universal Credit in confidence by phone, for example to ask for any Universal Credit payments to be split between you and your partner.

More information is available at:

If you are homeless

Universal Credit is claimed online, and you can get Help with your Universal Credit claim if you need more support. Your local Jobs & Benefits office works with homeless support organisations who will be able to advise on what local support is available.

Help with housing and homelessness

If you are homeless or at risk of losing your home, further information is available at Homelessness. For more information and help with keeping your home, homelessness and evictions, you can contact the Northern Ireland Housing Executive (NIHE).

If you are a prison leaver

Before your release from prison, you should check information about benefits to help you claim as soon as possible.

If you have just left prison you may be entitled to Universal Credit. You should claim immediately or as soon as possible after your release, as claims are not backdated.

You can get information for prisoners about benefits, and further support for prison leavers is available at Northern Ireland Association for the Care and Resettlement of Offenders (NIACRO) and Familysupportni.gov.uk

If you are a refugee or evacuee

If you are a refugee, or have been granted humanitarian protection or discretionary leave, you can apply for benefits in the same way as a UK national. You may be able to claim Universal Credit and you can get more information on Benefits for non-UK nationals.

If you need someone to manage your claim for you

You can ask a representative or appointee to manage your claim for you, or arrange for a friend, relative or professional to have ‘power of attorney’ to allow them to act for you.

More information on how to do this is available at Unable to manage your Universal Credit claim by yourself.

Contacting 08 and 03 numbers

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Comments or queries about angling can be emailed to anglingcorrespondence@daera-ni.gov.uk

If you have a comment or query about benefits, you will need to contact the government department or agency which handles that benefit. Contacts for common benefits are listed below.

Employment and Support Allowance

Call 0800 587 1377

Jobseeker’s Allowance

Contact your local Jobs & Benefits office

Personal Independence Payment

Call 0800 587 0932

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

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