What Benefits Can I Claim in Northern Ireland?

Who this guide is for

People in Northern Ireland who want to know which benefits they may be able to claim, and who can claim each one. Most benefits here are run by the Department for Communities.

What this guide does not cover

• People in England, Wales or Scotland: see the England and Wales guide or the Scotland guide.
• How much you would get: this guide gives no benefit amounts. Use a benefits calculator (see Where to go for help).
• Losing your job, New Style JSA and Universal Credit amounts: see our unemployment guide. That guide covers England, Scotland and Wales; Northern Ireland rules and amounts differ: see nidirect.
• Challenging a Universal Credit decision: see our Universal Credit appeals guide.
• Complaints about how a benefits office treated you: see our benefits complaints guide.
• Tax on foster care payments: see our foster carers guide.
• State Pension amounts, students, people from abroad and people in prison or a care home. Ask a free adviser.

What the rules depend on

1. Where do you live? Northern Ireland: this guide. England and Wales, and Scotland, have their own guides.
2. How old are you? Under State Pension age: Universal Credit, PIP and Carer's Allowance may apply. State Pension age or over: Pension Credit and Attendance Allowance may apply.
3. Do you have a health condition or disability? PIP (16 to State Pension age) or Attendance Allowance (State Pension age or over).
4. Do you care for someone for 35 hours a week or more? Carer's Allowance may apply.
5. Is your income low? Universal Credit or Pension Credit may apply. PIP and Attendance Allowance do not depend on income.

"I'm on a low income or out of work"

Universal Credit is for people over 18 but under State Pension age on a low income or out of work. It includes support for housing, children and childcare, and for people with disabilities, carers and people too ill to work. New Style Employment and Support Allowance is for people whose illness or disability restricts their ability to work. This guide does not give the Northern Ireland Universal Credit amounts or savings limits: ask Make the Call or Advice NI.

"My Universal Credit has been sanctioned"

• In Northern Ireland, Universal Credit is run by the Department for Communities. If you do not do something you agreed to, such as going to an interview, without a good reason, your payments may be cut for up to six months.
• Lowest level: lasts until you take part in the interview.
• Low level: until you do the activity, plus 7 days for your first, 14 days for your second, 28 days for your third.
• Medium level: 28 days for your first, 91 days for your second.
• Higher level: 91 days for your first, 182 days for every other one.
• Joint claims: the cut is 50% of the couple's standard allowance (20% for a lowest level sanction).
• If you are 16 or 17, the cut is 40% of your standard allowance and sanctions do not last as long.
• Hardship payments are only for basic essential needs. They must be paid back from your future Universal Credit, other benefits or through Debt Management.
• To challenge a sanction, ask for mandatory reconsideration within a month of the date of the decision (journal, phone, face to face or in writing). See our Universal Credit appeals guide.

Housing Benefit

• You can only make a new claim for Housing Benefit if you are State Pension age or older (if you have a partner, you both need to be). You can also claim if you have been placed in temporary accommodation by the Housing Executive, or you live in supported accommodation (including sheltered accommodation). Otherwise, if you need help with housing costs, you may have to claim Universal Credit.
• Universal Credit does not help with rates: claim Rate Rebate instead. If you own your home and need help with your rates bill, apply to Land & Property Services.
• Housing Benefit is run by the Housing Executive. You can ask it to look at a decision again within one calendar month of the date of your decision letter. You can appeal within one month of the date of the letter or of a new decision. A late appeal can be made up to 13 months from when the letter was sent, if you explain why you could not ask sooner. An independent panel decides. Housing Executive Housing Benefit: 03448 920 902.

"I have a health condition or disability"

PIP: you can get it if you are 16 or over and under State Pension age, you have a long-term physical or mental health condition or disability. You must also have difficulties doing certain everyday tasks or getting around, and you have had these difficulties for at least three months and expect them to last for at least another nine months. You must live in Northern Ireland and usually have lived in Northern Ireland, Great Britain, the Isle of Man, Jersey or Guernsey for two of the last three years. You can get PIP even if you are working, have savings or get most other benefits.

How PIP is scored: you get points for 10 daily living activities and 2 mobility activities (planning and following journeys, and moving around). For each part, 8 to 11 points gives the standard rate and 12 or more gives the enhanced rate. You are only treated as able to do an activity if you can do it reliably: safely, to an acceptable standard, as often as you need to, and in no more than twice the time it would take someone without your condition. Moving around scores 0 points if you can stand and then move more than 200 metres, and 4 points for more than 50 but no more than 200 metres. It scores 8 points for more than 20 but no more than 50 metres without an aid, 10 points for that distance using an aid such as a walking stick, and 12 points if you cannot move more than 20 metres. If a decision says you can walk further than you reliably can, say so when you ask for mandatory reconsideration and send any evidence you have.

Attendance Allowance: a tax-free benefit you may get if you are State Pension age or over and need help with personal care because of a physical or mental disability.

"I look after someone"

Carer's Allowance: if you are 16 or over and spend at least 35 hours a week caring for someone who is ill or has a disability. The person you care for must get certain benefits, and there are earnings rules. You do not have to be related to them or live with them. If the person has not been awarded a qualifying benefit yet, you can claim Carer's Allowance within three months of when it is awarded; if you claim late you may lose money.

"I've reached State Pension age"

Pension Credit gives extra money to help with living costs if you are over State Pension age and on a low income. You can be eligible even if you have a pension or savings or own your home.

Attendance Allowance: see above. PIP is for people under State Pension age.

"I have children"

Child Benefit is paid by HM Revenue and Customs across the UK, for people responsible for bringing up a child under 16, or under 20 if they stay in approved education or training.

Deadlines you must meet

• Carer's Allowance: claim within three months of the qualifying benefit being awarded, or you may lose money.
• If you disagree with a decision (for example PIP), ask for mandatory reconsideration within one calendar month of the date on your decision letter. Contact the office that made the decision or use form MR2(NI), say why the decision is wrong and send any evidence.
• If you still disagree after mandatory reconsideration, send your appeal to the Appeals Service so that it arrives within one month of the date on your mandatory reconsideration notice. You can appeal online, on form NOA1(SS), or by a signed letter giving your reasons, with the notice. The tribunal is independent. If your appeal is late you must explain why.
• Universal Credit decisions: see our Universal Credit appeals guide.

Traps

• Benefits here are run by the Department for Communities, not the Department for Work and Pensions. Child Benefit is the exception: it comes from HM Revenue and Customs.
• The Northern Ireland PIP rule is difficulties for at least three months, expected to last at least another nine months.
• PIP and Attendance Allowance do not depend on income or savings.
• Scotland's disability and carer benefits do not apply in Northern Ireland.