How you make a claim for Universal Credit

To start or manage your Universal Credit claim, make sure you access the official gov.uk website at Universal Credit online before sharing any personal information. 
If you see a suspicious website posing as Universal Credit, gov.uk or nidirect, you should report it at Scamwiseni

If you've received a Migration Notice letter

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

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

Universal Credit online account

To make a claim you must first create a secure Universal Credit online account. 

You can create your Universal Credit online account at Universal Credit online.

You must send your claim within 28 days of creating your account. Your claim starts on the date you send it. If you don’t send your claim within 28 days, you will need to create a new account. You will get your first payment about five weeks after you send your claim.

Once you have created your Universal Credit account you can use it to find information about your claim, to contact Universal Credit and to provide information about your claim. Messages to your online account will be answered as soon as possible during business hours.

What you need to claim Universal Credit 

You will need:

• your email address
• details of the bank, building society or credit union account you want your Universal Credit paid into
• documents to confirm your identity (for example, a UK driving licence or a household bill)
• details of any income from work, and any other income (for example, from an insurance policy)
• details of your savings, investments and assets
• details of any other benefits you’re getting
• details of your housing costs (including any service charges, but not rates) and your landlord’s details, if you have one
• details of the people who live in your home
• details of payments to a Private Pension Scheme if you have one - this does not include any workplace pension run by your employer

If you do not have these documents or details you can get support to claim Universal Credit.

How to get support to claim Universal Credit

If you do not have a bank account 

Your local Jobs & Benefits office can advise you of support available to open a bank account. Many banks offer basic bank accounts.

 The Payment Exception Service allows you to collect benefit payments without a bank account. The service is only available if you cannot open a bank, building society or credit union account. 

If you do not have an email address

You can get help to set up an email address at your local Jobs & Benefits office. Or for more information on how to get online visit your local library at Libraries NI for free IT events.

Many services do not need a phone number for you to verify your new email address. So do not worry if you do not have a mobile phone. 

If you do not have proof of identity

Universal Credit can confirm your identity at a Jobs & Benefits office appointment using a set of security questions.

If you do not know your National Insurance number 

If you do not have a National Insurance number, you will be asked to apply for one to complete your Universal Credit claim. If you have already been given a National Insurance number you can find it:

• on a document such as a pay slip or P60
• online through a personal tax account if you have one or at find your National Insurance number
• in the HMRC app 

If you need help with your claim, or cannot provide any of the information requested, you can contact Universal Credit through your Universal Credit online account, speak to a member of the team in your local Jobs & Benefits office or phone the Universal Credit Service Centre.

Find out how to get ready for Universal Credit and what you need to do to prepare for claiming Universal Credit.

If you were delayed in making a claim

If you were delayed in making a claim through no fault of your own, and you could not reasonably be expected to make it earlier, it may be possible to backdate your claim in certain circumstances.

Your claim may be backdated if:

• you have a disability or had an illness that prevented you making a claim
• you were getting another benefit and were not told it was going to stop
• you claimed as a couple, but your partner did not complete their claim and you are now claiming as a single person

It may also be backdated if you were unable to claim online because the Universal Credit online service was not working. 

Information videos can help explain the key stages in claiming Universal Credit.

Digital support in your local Jobs & Benefits office

If you don’t have access to the internet or a digital device (for example a computer, laptop, tablet or smartphone) or if you need help to get online, your local Jobs & Benefits office can help.

Learn more about how to get extra help to make or maintain your Universal Credit claim.

If you consider moving to Universal Credit from another benefit

When you claim Universal Credit, any benefits it replaces will stop.  If you are considering a move to Universal Credit from another benefit, you can check your eligibility. 

If you receive a Migration Notice letter, you have three months to make a claim to Universal Credit before your current benefit payments end. 

Your benefit will end even if you do not claim Universal Credit.

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

You can also use a benefit calculator to check how much you may get.