Universal Credit is replacing the following:
- Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance
- Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
- Income Support
- Working Tax Credit
- Child Tax Credit
- Housing Benefit – for rent only
If you currently get one of these benefits or Tax Credits and your circumstances change, you must report the change as soon as possible.
Changes in your circumstances may mean that you need to move to Universal Credit and your existing benefits will stop.
If your circumstances do not change, you do not need to do anything, you will be told what to do when it is time for you to move to Universal Credit.
Support until you get your Universal Credit payments
A Universal Credit Contingency Fund payment may be available if you do not have enough money to live on until you get your first Universal Credit payment. You will not have to pay this back.
To ask for a Universal Credit Contingency Fund payment, phone the Finance Support Service or contact your work coach at your local Jobs & Benefits office.
How this affects your Jobseeker’s Allowance
If a change in your circumstances means you are no longer entitled to Jobseeker’s Allowance you may make a claim for Universal Credit. You will continue to receive Jobseeker's Allowance for an extra two weeks after you make your claim for Universal Credit. Your Jobseeker's Allowance will then stop.
Your Jobseeker’s Allowance may stop being paid before you get your first Universal Credit payment. If this happens, you can ask for an advance to help you manage until you get your first payment.
How this affects your Employment and Support Allowance
If a change in your circumstances means you are no longer entitled to Employment and Support Allowance you may make a claim for Universal Credit. You will continue to receive Employment and Support Allowance for an extra two weeks after you make your claim for Universal Credit.
Your Employment and Support Allowance may stop being paid before you get your first Universal Credit payment. If this happens, you can ask for an advance to help you manage until you get your first payment.
How this affects your Income Support
If a change in your circumstances means you are no longer entitled to Income Support you may make a claim for Universal Credit. You will continue to receive Income Support for an extra two weeks after you make your claim for Universal Credit.
Your Income Support may stop being paid before you get your first Universal Credit payment. If this happens, you can ask for an advance to help you manage until you get your first payment.
How this affects your Tax Credits
When you claim Universal Credit, and your identity has been confirmed, your claim for Tax Credits will end. Your Tax Credits may stop being paid before you get your first Universal Credit payment. If this happens, you can ask for an advance to help you manage until you get your first payment.
COVID-19
If you already receive Tax Credits and have a drop in your income or are ill because of COVID-19 you may be able to continue to claim Tax Credits for a period of time.
For further information please refer to Gov.UK.
How this affects your Housing Benefit
If you are getting Housing Benefit when you claim Universal Credit, you will continue to receive Housing Benefit for an extra two weeks after you make your claim for Universal Credit. Your Housing Benefit will then stop. It may stop being paid before you get your first Universal Credit payment. If this happens, you can ask for an advance to help you manage until you get your first payment.
Welfare Supplementary Payments if you are on Universal Credit
Welfare Supplementary Payments are payments to help people in Northern Ireland cope with welfare changes, including if you move to Universal Credit.
If you get a Welfare Supplementary Payment and move to Universal Credit, your Welfare Supplementary Payment will normally stop and most people will get an administrative payment.
Help and support
If you would like independent help and advice on Universal Credit, or any of the other welfare changes, you can visit any independent advice office or contact: