More financial help if you get Universal Credit
If you are entitled to Universal Credit, you may be eligible to claim extra support to help with essential costs.
If you've received a Migration Notice letter
If you have received a Migration Notice letter telling you that 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.
Help while waiting on your Universal Credit payment
You will get your first Universal Credit payment about five weeks after you send your claim. You will get payments twice a month.
If you do not have enough money to live on, you can apply for:
- a Universal Credit New Claims Grant - you do not have to pay this back
- a Universal Credit Advance loan - you will have to pay this back from your Universal Credit payments
- a Budgeting Advance loan - you will have to pay this back from your Universal Credit payments
- Discretionary Support - an interest free loan or a grant
More information is available at Help while waiting for a Universal Credit payment. Contact Universal Credit through your online account or speak to your work coach at your local Jobs & Benefits office.
Make the Call service
Check if you are getting all the benefits, services and supports you are entitled to by contacting Make the Call.
Personal Independence Payment
You can claim Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment (PIP) at the same time.
Other benefits you may be able to get
You may be entitled to other benefits, for example:
- Carer’s Allowance
- Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit (parts of Constant Attendance Allowance and Exceptionally Severe Disablement Allowance may not be included)
- Maternity Allowance
- State Pension
- Widowed Parent’s Allowance
- New Style Jobseeker's Allowance
- New Style Employment and Support Allowance
Further financial support
You may also be eligible for other financial support.
Adviser Discretion Fund (ADF)
If you are unemployed and facing financial barriers to starting or returning to work, your local Jobs & Benefits office may be able to help you.
They can help with upfront childcare costs, travel to job interview costs and other expenses, through the Adviser Discretion Fund.
If you are employed or self-employed and are facing financial difficulties they can also help.
Cost of Living Support
Information and support is available at:
You may also be able to claim Discretionary Support for help with short term living expenses.
Rate Rebate
Universal Credit does not include an amount for rates. If you are entitled to Universal Credit and you live in your own property or a rented property, you can apply for a Rate Rebate.
You can’t apply for Rate Rebate if you live in supported accommodation.
Support for Mortgage Interest
If you are a homeowner and you get Universal Credit, you may be able to get help towards your mortgage interest payments. You will need to pay this money back, with interest, when you sell or transfer ownership of your property.
More information on support for mortgage interest
Help with Health Costs
You may be able to get help with dental, optical and travel costs if you receive Universal Credit.
You will not get this help automatically. You will need to fill in a HC1 form to check if you are eligible. Take it to your local Jobs & Benefits office or send it to:
Freepost, Universal Credit Northern Ireland
Print the Freepost address on a single address line and don’t add any other address details. Envelopes addressed in any other way may not be delivered.
You will not get help with these costs until after you send the form and get confirmation that you are eligible.
If your application is successful, you will be issued a certificate which will entitle you to either:
- full remission of health costs for a 12-month period (HC2 certificate)
- partial remission of health costs for a 12-month period (HC3 certificate)
HC2 and HC3 certificates are valid for 12 months.
To keep getting help with health costs, you will need to complete a new HC1 form before your HC2 or HC3 certificate expires.
You can also get an HC1 form by going to your local Jobs & Benefits office or call the Universal Credit Service Centre.
More information on Help with Health Costs
Free School Meals and help with School Uniforms and Transport
To claim free school meals or for help with school uniforms you should apply online at Education Authority (EA) Northern Ireland.
If you get Universal Credit, you will need to give your most recent Universal Credit Claimant Statement.
More information is available at Nutrition and school lunches and School uniform and uniform grants.
Some children may be able to get help with home to school transport from the Education Authority (EA).
If you have children with disabilities or special educational needs they may also get extra help.
More information at School transport
Pre-School Application Process
If you are a parent applying for a pre-school education place and are eligible for Universal Credit you can claim priority because of social disadvantage.
Apply online for admission to pre-school at Education Authority admissions
You can also request a paper form by emailing or contacting the Admissions helpdesk.
If you get Universal Credit you will need to give your most recent Universal Credit Claimant Statement.
Healthy Start Scheme
If you get Universal Credit, your family can get access to free vitamins and vouchers towards milk, fruit and vegetables through the Healthy Start Scheme.
More information at Healthy Start Scheme.
Sure Start Maternity Grants
If you receive Universal Credit, you may be eligible for a one-off £500 payment to help with the costs of a new baby. You do not have to pay this back.
More information at Sure Start Maternity Grant.
Winter Fuel Payment
If you are eligible for the Winter Fuel Payment, you do not need to do anything. Payments will be made by the end of January 2025.
Cold Weather Payments
You may be eligible for a Cold Weather payment if you:
- get Universal Credit
- are not employed or self-employed, and either
- you have a health condition or disability and have limited capability for work (with or without work-related activity)
- you have a child under five living with you
You are also eligible if you have a disabled child amount in your claim, whether you are employed or not.
More information at Cold Weather Payments.
Low cost broadband and phone service
If you get Universal Credit and you have zero earnings you may be able to get help with your broadband and phone costs.
Legal Aid
If you get Universal Credit, you may be able to get legal aid as well as:
- legal advice and help
- prison visits
- exemption from court costs
More information at Legal aid.
Funeral Payments
If you get Universal Credit and are arranging the funeral of someone you have had a close relationship with, you may be able to get a Funeral Expenses Payment.
More information at Funeral Expenses Payments.
Child Funeral Fund
The Child Funeral Fund is a one-off lump sum payment available to everyone in Northern Ireland. That is regardless of their financial status. The fund is to help families with the cost of a funeral following the death of a child under 18 or a still birth after 24 weeks.
Information at The Child Funeral Fund.
Council run services
Your local council may offer reduced rates for some services.
How to print your Universal Credit Statement
If you need to provide your most recent Universal Credit Claimant Statement to show evidence of your claim this video explains how to print a copy from your account.
Independent advice
If you would like independent help and advice on benefits or other financial support, visit any independent advice office or contact: