Information for Ukrainians arriving in Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland welcomes people from Ukraine and we're thankful that you have arrived safely here with us. We want to help you transition to life here and make sure that you know how to access the support available to you, including housing, employment and access to education.
What to expect
A welcome information pack is available at:
The key information within this document is also available on this website.
The website can be translated into the language of your choice by using the orange bar at the top of this page.
If you arrive in Northern Ireland through either the Homes for Ukrainians Scheme or through the Ukraine Family Scheme you are entitled to:
- £200 financial gift per person in your party (including children) from the government to help with your basic needs - you can receive your £200 by applying here: Ukrainian Cash Support Scheme
- stay in the UK for three years
- the right to work in the UK
- the right to access services including education, health services and legal advice
You also have the right to claim state benefits including child benefit, housing benefit, Universal Credit, and state pension benefit. You may also be eligible to apply for help from Discretionary Support or a Universal Credit Contingency Fund payment to get help towards short-term living expenses and household items until you receive your first benefit.
More details on eligibility and how to apply can be found at the following link:
You should not be asked by your host to pay any extra rent or make any extra financial contribution to the household. But, you may want to agree some house rules. For example, making a reasonable and proportionate contribution to household expenses, like utilities used or supplied to the accommodation or to any shared facilities, that works for both of you.
Ukraine assistance centres
If you have arrived in Northern Ireland from Ukraine, under either the Family Scheme or Homes for Ukraine Scheme, you should go to an assistance centre. These centres are in Ballymena, Belfast, Craigavon and Newry.
Further information is available at this link:
Practical support
There are many local charities, community organisations and faith-based organisations that are giving practical support.
The Trussell Trust will be able to help by giving you basic essential items or food if there are delays with accessing financial support.
You can search for your local food bank at the following:
Emotional support
Having been through such a traumatic experience, you may feel you need emotional support.
British Red Cross
You can call the British Red Cross support line, which provides help in more than 200 languages.
It helps people who are lonely, worried and finding it hard to get the help they need in the UK.
You can phone the British Red Cross free and confidentially on:
- 0808 196 3651 (open daily 10.00 am to 6.00 pm)
You can ask for an interpreter if you need one.
For support outside of these hours, 24-hour emergency help is also available.
Barnardo’s
Barnardo's has set up the Ukrainian Support Helpline to provide a holistic support.
The helpline is available to anyone fleeing the conflict in Ukraine.
For more information:
- phone: 0800 148 8586
- online: Barnardo's Ukrainian Support Helpline
Further information
You can learn what to expect when you arrive on the following pages:
- Arrival and transport to your accommodation
- Travelling to Northern Ireland from Ukraine with pets
- Homes for Ukraine scheme: accommodation and emergency accommodation
- Homes for Ukraine scheme: visas and biometrics
- Help and support for victims of human trafficking and slavery
- Dealing with emergency situations
You can also find out how to access healthcare, employment, benefits and education.
- Accessing services – banking and National Insurance number
- Accessing services - applying for benefits
- Accessing Services – employment
- Accessing Services – health care
- Accessing services - education and childcare
- English for speakers of other languages (ESOL)
Finding other accommodation
Your living arrangements six months after moving to the UK
You should talk to your host about your future plans four months after your arrival in the UK. This will give you plenty of time to decide and prepare for your next steps.
To find out more information about your accommodation choices, read the information below. You can also:
- visit a Ukraine Assistance Centre and speak to NIHE staff
- contact NIHE Housing Solutions Support on: 03448 920900 - an advisor will take your contact details and arrange for a housing advisor to contact you - interpreting support will be given if needed
Emergency accommodation
If there is an immediate need to secure other accommodation urgently (if you decide you can no longer live with your sponsor or your sponsor asks you to leave) you can call the Northern Ireland Housing Executive emergency number on:
- phone: 03448 920 900 (Monday to Friday during office hours)
- phone: 03448 920 908 (after 5.00pm Monday to Friday or at the weekends)
If your sponsorship arrangement ends before six months
If for any reason either you or your host does not want to continue with the sponsorship arrangement for the full six months, there are other accommodation choices available - and you can get help with this.
If your sponsorship ends or is at risk of ending, you should contact Homes for Ukraine by email:
- email: homesforukraine@nihe.gov.uk
It may be possible to ‘rematch’ you with a new sponsor who has offered accommodation through the Homes for Ukraine scheme but who has not yet had a Ukrainian guest placed with them.
Before a rematch is made, the new sponsor’s home will be assessed to make sure it is suitable.
After you have moved into the new accommodation, a home visit will be made by either Extern or Barnardos to check that you are satisfied with the new placement.
Support will be given to try and find accommodation that meets the needs of your family, and a rematch will only be arranged with your full agreement. If you would like to find another sponsorship arrangement email Homes for Ukraine:
- email: homesforukraine@nihe.gov.uk
Staying with your host after six months
Your host may be happy for you to continue to stay with them for another six months. Where this is the case, this is likely to be the best choice for you until you are ready to move on.
Not every host can continue to offer accommodation after six months. Where that is the case, we encourage you to develop a plan with your host about how you move on.
Finding a new host/rematching
A process to ‘rematch’ Ukrainian people with a new host has been put in place where the initial arrangement can’t be sustained.
There are people in Northern Ireland offering accommodation through the Homes for Ukraine scheme who have not yet made a connection with a Ukrainian person who wants to come here,. So, it may be possible for you to move to different accommodation with a new host.
Before a new match is made, a visit to the new host’s home will be made to assess suitability of accommodation and all the necessary checks will be carried out.
A second home visit after you have moved into the new accommodation to check the new placement is working will also be made.
If you wish to find out about this choice, support will be given to try and find accommodation that meets the needs of your family. This will only be arranged with your full agreement. If you would like to find you another sponsorship arrangement email Homes for Ukraine:
- email: homesforukraine@nihe.gov.uk
Moving to another area of the UK outside Northern Ireland
If you want to move to another area of the UK, you should contact Homes for Ukraine by email so they can make any necessary checks and can confirm your new living arrangements are suitable.
- email: homesforukraine@nihe.gov.uk
Community groups, local charities and local councils in England, Scotland and Wales have dedicated websites to give you more information about an area before you decide to move.
You can search for the different council areas outside of Northern Ireland at the following link:
If you have a child aged between four and 16 it is important to consider the availability of school places in the area that you are thinking of moving to.
Renting private accommodation
If you are considering renting your own accommodation, make sure you know what your rights and responsibilities are as a tenant. Find out more about renting at the following links:
This information will help you when you are ready and able to move out of your host’s accommodation.
You may be entitled to Housing Benefit or Universal Credit, which could help with the cost of rent. The Make the Call Team can offer you some advice on this. Calls to Make the Call are free or you can email them:
- freephone: 0800 232 1271
- email: makethecall@dfcni.gov.uk
Information is available on renting in England, Scotland and Wales
Social housing
You may want to join the waiting list for social housing. This is rented accommodation provided by the Northern Ireland Housing Executive (NIHE) or through registered Housing Associations at affordable rent levels. These are typically lower than average private market rents.
There is, however, a very large demand for social housing with over 40,000 people on the waiting list.
To find out more about social housing, you can visit a Ukraine Assistance Centre and speak to NIHE staff.
Or, contact NIHE Housing Solutions Support on:
- phone: 03448 920900
An advisor will take your contact details and arrange for a housing advisor to contact you. Interpreting support will be given if needed
Useful links
- Coping with trauma - adults (Ukrainian)
- Coping with trauma - children (Ukrainian)
- Coping with a personal crisis (Ukrainian)
- Coping with trauma - adults (Russian)
- Coping with trauma - children (Russian)
- Coping with a personal crisis (Russian)