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  5. Universal Credit

How you make a claim for Universal Credit

Universal Credit is a secure digital service and you will make your claim online. You will use your online account to provide information, including what you have done to look or prepare for work.

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 - GOV.UK.

You must submit your claim within 28 days of creating your account. If you don’t submit your claim within 28 days, you will need to create a new account. You will get your first payment about five weeks after you submit 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 

  • your email address
  • details of the bank or building society 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

The Universal Credit Personal Planner will tell you what you need to do to prepare for claiming Universal Credit.

If you need help with your claim, you can contact Universal Credit through  your Universal Credit online account, speak to your Work Coach in your local Jobs & Benefits office or phone the Universal Credit Service Centre.

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

If you consider moving to Universal Credit from another benefit

When you claim Universal Credit, any benefits or tax credits it replaces will stop.  If you are considering a move to Universal Credit from another benefit, you can check your eligibility.  You should seek independent advice before making a claim for Universal Credit. 

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

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Universal Credit

  • Agree your Universal Credit Commitment
  • Changes that may affect your Universal Credit
  • Changes you need to tell Universal Credit about
  • Contact Universal Credit for help with your claim
  • Extra help to make or maintain your Universal Credit claim
  • Find out who to contact about money taken off your Universal Credit payment
  • Frontier and cross border workers claiming Universal Credit
  • Help to find work on Universal Credit
  • Help while waiting for a Universal Credit payment
  • How much can be taken from your Universal Credit payments
  • How much Universal Credit you get and how you're paid
  • How you make a claim for Universal Credit
  • Money taken from your Universal Credit payments
  • More financial help if you get Universal Credit
  • Unable to manage your Universal Credit claim by yourself
  • Universal Credit - Sharing your information with others
  • Universal Credit if you have a health condition or disability
  • Universal Credit if you're claiming other benefits or tax credits
  • Universal Credit if you're employed
  • Universal Credit if you're self-employed
  • Universal Credit if you're unemployed
  • Universal Credit payments for children and childcare
  • Universal Credit payments for housing
  • Universal Credit reclaims
  • Universal Credit: advance payments
  • Universal Credit: two child limit
  • What to do after you have claimed Universal Credit
  • What will affect your Universal Credit payments
  • Who can claim Universal Credit
  • Who to contact if you disagree with Universal Credit's decision
  • Who to talk to about deductions from your Universal Credit
  • You want to claim Universal Credit again

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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.

Carer's Allowance

Call 0800 587 0912
Email 
dcs.incomingpostteamdhc2@nissa.gsi.gov.uk

Discretionary support / Short-term benefit advance

Call 0800 587 2750 
Email 
customerservice.unit@communities-ni.gov.uk

Disability Living Allowance

Call 0800 587 0912 
Email dcs.incomingpostteamdhc2@nissa.gsi.gov.uk

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.

Comments or queries about the Blue Badge scheme can be emailed to bluebadges@infrastructure-ni.gov.uk or you can also call 0300 200 7818.

For queries or advice about careers, contact the Careers Service.

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For queries about your identity check, email nida@nidirect.gov.uk and for queries about your certificate, email covidcertni@hscni.net.

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

For queries about your identity check, email nida@nidirect.gov.uk.

 

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If you wish to report a problem with a road or street you can do so online in this section.

If you wish to check on a problem or fault you have already reported, contact DfI Roads.

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