Frontier and cross border workers claiming Universal Credit

Frontier and cross border workers claiming Universal Credit

As Universal Credit does not accept non-UK postcodes if you live in the Republic of Ireland (RoI) but work in Northern Ireland, you will need to use your nearest Jobs & Benefits office (JBo) postcode to allow your claim to progress.  Where a JBo postcode is being used as a ‘home address’, further checks may be made to confirm if you are claiming as a Frontier/cross border worker.

Proof of employment

You will need to prove your eligibility as a frontier/cross border worker by providing evidence of your employment in Northern Ireland.  This can be:

• Contract of employment
• Payslips
• P60 certificate for PAYE
• Letter from employer

This list is not exhaustive.

Self-employed Frontier and cross border workers

If you are Self-employed in Northern Ireland, you will need to go to a gateway interview to work out  if you are Self-employed

During this interview you will need to prove

• you are carrying on a trade, profession or vocation as your main employment

• your earnings from that trade, profession or vocation are self-employed earnings
• the trade, profession or vocation is organised, developed, regular and carried out in expectation of profit
• you must also hold a Unique Tax Reference number (UTR) from HMRC

Universal Credit payments

As Universal Credit is calculated based on a household, it needs to take in to account each person living in your normal residence. 

If you have a partner living in your normal residence who is working outside of Northern Ireland, you will need to report their earnings at the end of each assessment period.

Your partner’s earnings and any capital the household has will be taken into account in the calculation of the Universal Credit award. You will be paid at the single rate of Universal Credit award providing no other Universal Credit elements are in payment.

Children

You may be entitled to the child element of Universal Credit providing you meet the normal eligibility criteria if you have children, and providing there is not the same child element of Universal Credit being paid for the children in RoI.

Childcare costs

You may be entitled to money towards childcare costs if you pay for childcare for children in your household. You must also meet the eligibility criteria for childcare costs.

Childcare provided in RoI, must be approved by the relevant state (RoI) and must be an approved childcare provider.  You can check through the ROI childcare registrar Tusla website which can be access here: Register of Early Years Services by County - Tusla Child and Family Agency

Housing

If you pay rent for your home in Northern Ireland for a period of the working week, you will be expected to meet the normal Universal Credit payment liability and occupation conditions.  

Health

If you are ill or have a disability you may be able to get an extra monthly amount. This will depend on you retaining your eligibility to Universal Credit as a frontier/cross border worker.

Carers

You may be entitled to the carer element of Universal Credit providing you meet the eligibility condition for Carers whilst retaining the qualifying condition to Universal Credit as a frontier/cross border worker.

Bank accounts

Universal Credit payments can only be paid into a UK bank account. If you don’t have a UK bank account you will need to open one.

There are a range of UK accounts available that are suitable for having your benefit paid into, including:

• a basic bank account (also called an introductory account)
• a standard bank or building society account (for example, a current account)
• Building Society account
• an online only or App-based account
• a Credit Union account

Third party deductions from Universal Credit

Third party deductions can only be deducted from the Frontier/cross border worker if the deduction was imposed in Northern Ireland.  This includes:

• Northern Ireland court fine
• Northern Ireland social fund repayment

Universal Credit cannot take third party deductions imposed by RoI.

More useful links

• Working in Northern Ireland