Support during the five week wait in Northern Ireland

Unlike other parts of the UK, people in Northern Ireland can apply for a Universal Credit New Claims Grant. This payment does not need to be paid back.  

The UC New Claims grant helps with the cost of living while you wait for your first UC payment.  

You cannot get it if you have already had a discretionary support payment, and you cannot get a discretionary support payment if you’ve already had a UC New Claims Grant.  

You can get a UC New Claims Grant and a UC Advance at the same time.  

Can I get a UC New claims grant? 

To be eligible you must: 

• Live in Northern Ireland and be aged 18 (or 16 if you don’t have parental support) 
• Be in an exceptional situation or crisis, and you or your families health, safety and wellbeing is at significant risk  
• You and your partner's annual income after deductions should be no more than £28,571.40  
• You must not have had a grant for living expenses in last 12 months  

How to apply  

You can apply online, by completing a digital application form. 

You’ll need to provide your NI Number and details of your income. You might have to visit a local Jobs and Benefits office if they need more information.  

If you disagree with the decision, you can request a review.

You can ask for a Universal Credit (UC) Advance while you’re waiting for your first payment.  

It is a loan which you must pay back from your future Universal Credit payments, usually over 24 months.  

How much you can get will depend on your Universal Credit entitlement, but you can get up to 100% of your estimated amount.  

You can only claim a Universal Credit Advance during your first assessment period, and you’ll normally receive it within three working days of requesting it.  

You can request a UC Advance payment by:

• Speaking to your Jobcentre Plus work coach
• Requesting one in your online Universal Credit account   

Calling the Universal Credit Helpline:

• Telephone 0800 328 5644 
• Textphone 0800 328 1344 

You might be able to get financial help while you wait for your first Universal Credit claim through Discretionary Support 

Discretionary Support can provide an interest-free loan which has to be paid back, or a grant that doesn’t have to be paid back. Your individual and family circumstances will determine whether you get a loan or a grant.

To get this support you must: 

• Live in Northern Ireland and be aged 18 (or 16 if you don’t have parental support) 
• Be in an exceptional situation or crisis, and you or your families health, safety and wellbeing is at significant risk  
• You and your partners annual income after deductions should be no more than £28,571.40  

You can apply for Discretionary Support online, through the Finance Support Service.  

The Finance Support Service will tell you the outcome of your application for an Emergency Assistance Payment within 24 hours, and within 10 working days for an Individual Assistance Payment. 

You might be able to get support through the Adviser Discretion Fund, to help with extra costs associated with getting into and starting work. This could include support with travel expenses to attend an interview, or money to pay for clothing to start work.  

The Adviser Discretion Fund is discretionary, so you don’t have to pay it back. You also don’t have an automatic right to it if you qualify and no set amount of money can be given. 

It depends on your situation, circumstances and needs.

To get access to the Adviser Discretion Fund, you should speak to your Work Coach or another adviser at your local Jobs and Benefits office. 

You will need to tell them what you need the money for and give evidence that you cannot pay for the items yourself. 

There might be other support available to you if you get Universal Credit and meet certain criteria

• Budgeting Advance - if you have been X
• UC Recoverable Hardship Fund - of you have been sanctioned

Visit our Emergency Information guide for other support options.