Northern Ireland Executive
22 Mar 2023, 22 GMT+10
The next phase of Universal Credit (UC) implementation will begin in Northern Ireland next month with the launch of a discovery exercise based in both a rural and an urban location.
Universal Credit has been in place since September 2017 for all new claims. It replaces Income Support, income-based Jobseeker's Allowance, income-related Employment & Support Allowance, Housing Benefit (rental) and Tax Credits. Around 147,000 people are currently on Universal Credit in Northern Ireland.
The discovery exercise will start on 17 April and involve around 500 people in the Andersonstown and Enniskillen Jobs & Benefits office areas who are in receipt of tax credits only and no other benefit. Learning from this exercise will be used to inform planning for the full implementation of the 'Move to UC' programme in Northern Ireland.
Deputy Secretary of Work and Health at the Department for Communities, Paddy Rooney said:
"We are beginning to move those on legacy benefits onto UC and are approaching this with care to ensure that the proper supports are in place for customers.
"The three month discovery exercise will involve a small number of people, from rural and urban areas who will be provided with a range of supports to ease the transition.
"As part of this we are engaging widely with the advice sector and other stakeholders. We will use the experience gained from this process to inform the next stages of the move to UC to ensure the right supports are in place for people, at the right time and in the right way."
Migration Notice letters will be issued explaining what people need to do and will include signposting to help and support. People will be able to contact the Move to UC Team on Freephone 0800 012 1331, Textphone 0800 012 1441 (for deaf users, those with hearing loss and users with speech and communication needs) and a UC Video Relay Service is available for sign language users. Information will also be available on the nidirect website and through the Department's 35 local Jobs & Benefits offices.
Anyone making a claim to UC following receipt of a Migration Notice letter will have their benefit entitlement protected through Transitional Protection. This means that people with no change in their circumstances will not have a reduced entitlement at the point they move to UC.
Legacy benefit customers should not do anything until they receive a Migration Notice letter.
Get a daily dose of Irish Sun news through our daily email, its complimentary and keeps you fully up to date with world and business news as well.
Publish news of your business, community or sports group, personnel appointments, major event and more by submitting a news release to Irish Sun.
More InformationWASHINGTON, DC - Within hours of blocking a UN Security Council resolution from demanding a ceasefire in the current Mideast ...
WASHINGTON D.C.: In a sign of the challenges ahead for his 2024 re-election bid, a new Reuters/Ipsos poll showed that ...
Israel has acknowledged and thanked the United States and President Joe Biden for standing firmly by Israel's side at the ...
NEW YORK: This week, New York City officials said that one person was killed and six others were injured when ...
NEW YORK, New York - The United Kingdom refrained from supporting demands for a ceasefire in the two-months long Israel-Gaza ...
NEW YORK, New York - The U.S. was alone on Friday in a 13-1 vote for a ceasefire in the ...
DUBLIN, Ireland: The latest Balance for Better Business report has revealed that women now hold 39 percent of board positions ...
BRUSSELS, Belgium: To address power shortages at electric vehicle (EV) charging stations, last week, the European Commission announced plans to ...
© Provided by Xinhua SHANGHAI, Dec. 10 (Xinhua) -- Scientists have developed a new model for sub-seasonal forecasts using artificial ...
© Provided by Xinhua In the past year, over 1.59 million vehicles crossed the Halogaland Bridge. The daily average of ...
Tel Aviv [Israel], December 10 (ANI): Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held a telephonic conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin ...
New Delhi [India], December 10 (ANI): Economic nationalism will play an important role in the journey to a developed India, ...