What is Universal Credit?

Universal Credit (UC) is a new benefit that gets paid monthly or fortnightly. It will be rolled out in Northern Ireland from September 2017 and will include all new claims in NI by the end of 2018.

You can get UC if you have little or no income and low levels of savings and capital.

UC will replace the following benefits:

• Housing Benefit,
• Income Support,
• Income-based Job Seekers Allowance,
• Income related Employment & Support Allowance,
• Child Tax Credit,
• Working Tax Credit, and
• Budgeting Loan.

If you are getting any of the benefits that UC is replacing, the Social Security Agency (SSA) will move you to UC some time before 2022.

UC is made up of 'Elements'. There are various Elements of UC you can get depending on your circumstances. This includes a Carer's Element.

You qualify if you spend at least 35 hours a week caring for someone who gets:

• Attendance Allowance,
• Personal Independence Payment (standard or enhanced daily living component), or
• Disability Living Allowance (middle or high rate care component).