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:

Information for Ukrainians arriving in Northern Ireland

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 claim state benefits including child benefit, housing benefit, Universal Credit, and state pension benefit. You may 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 this link: Accessing Financial Support
the right to access services including education, health services and legal advice

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 consumed 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:

Ukraine assistance centres

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:

Find a food bank

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:

You can also find out how to access healthcare, employment, benefits and education.

Useful links

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What to do next

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.

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.

For queries or advice about Child Maintenance, contact the Child Maintenance Service.

For queries or advice about claiming compensation due to a road problem, contact DFI Roads claim unit.

If you can’t find the information you’re looking for in the Coronavirus (COVID-19) section, then for queries about:

Restrictions or regulations — contact the Department of Health
Travel advice (including self-isolation) — contact the Department of Health
Coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccinations — contact the Department of Health or Public Health Agency

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 and for queries about your certificate, email covidcertni@hscni.net.

For queries or advice about criminal record checks, email ani@accessni.gov.uk

Application and payment queries can be emailed to ema_ni@slc.co.uk

For queries or advice about employment rights, contact the Labour Relations Agency.

For queries or advice about birth, death, marriage and civil partnership certificates and research, contact the General Register Office Northern Ireland (GRONI) by email gro_nisra@finance-ni.gov.uk

For queries about the High Street Spend Local Scheme, email HSSS.mail@economy-ni.gov.uk.

For queries about:

Car tax, vehicle registration and SORN
contact the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA), Swansea
Driver licensing and tests, MOT and vehicle testing
contact the Driver & Vehicle Agency (DVA), Northern Ireland

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.

For queries or advice about passports, contact HM Passport Office.

For queries or advice about Penalty Charge Notices (PCNs), including parking tickets and bus lane PCNs, email dcu@infrastructure-ni.gov.uk

For queries or advice about pensions, contact the Northern Ireland Pension Centre.

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.

For queries or advice about historical, social or cultural records relating to Northern Ireland, use the Public Record Office of Northern Ireland (PRONI) enquiry service.

For queries or advice about rates, email LPSCustomerTeam@lpsni.gov.uk

For queries or advice about 60+ and Senior Citizen SmartPasses (which can be used to get concessionary travel on public transport), contact Smartpass - Translink.

If you have a question about a government service or policy, you should contact the relevant government organisation directly. We don't have access to information about you.

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