Universal credit: Who can claim Universal credit
Universal Credit (UC) has conditions that must be met in order to establish entitlement. We explain these basic and financial conditions in our entitlement to UC section. There are no longer any restrictions on who can make a claim for UC, although being able to make a claim is not the same as being entitled to UC – claimants still need to meet the basic and financial conditions.
Pension Age claimants
Northern Ireland
Pension age claimants
The GOV.UK website has a tool to check when state pension/state pension credit age will be reached.
Generally, claimants who have reached their qualifying state pension credit age are not entitled to UC because they do not meet the basic conditions of the benefit on age grounds due to the UC upper age limit.
There is a routine exception to the general rule for couples where one member of the couple is below their state pension credit qualifying age and the other member has already reached theirs. This scenario is often referred to as a 'mixed age couple'. As a result, mixed age couples are entitled to universal credit.
From 15 May 2019, most mixed age couples have only been able to claim UC and could no longer claim pension credit. Until that date, mixed age couples could choose whether to claim UC or pension credit. However, mixed age couples who were claiming housing benefit under pension age rules on 14 May 2019 can make a new claim for pension credit if the housing benefit award has been paid continuously since this date. We refer to these a ‘protected’ mixed age couples. Our understanding is that there is nothing technically stopping a UC claim from these mixed age couples, but they may be better off financially claiming pension credit rather than UC. Specialist welfare rights support should be obtained before any claim is made to understand the correct position. Further information is available from Age UK factsheet.
If someone is claiming pension credit as a single person because they have reached state pension credit age and they become a couple with someone who is under state pension credit age then their pension credit claim will stop and they may have to claim universal credit instead.
The other exception to the maximum age rules in UC applied to people who migrated from tax credits to UC. From 8 June 2024, the upper age limit in UC was waived for some people who were claiming tax credits who had reached their state pension credit age, were entitled to working tax credit and who were not entitled to state pension credit. This only applied to people already claiming tax credit who were issued with a migration notice by DWP.
Northern Ireland
Who can claim UC in Northern Ireland?
The Department of Finance Rate Rebate Scheme provides rates support for tenants or home owners who are entitled to UC in Northern Ireland.
The rules for who can claim UC in Northern Ireland are the same as in Great Britain .
Changes to UC in Northern Ireland
There are some flexibilities that are available to NI claimants:
- Twice monthly payments are available to all households as the default, with monthly payments available on request
- Split payments (paid into separate bank accounts) are possible between parties in a household. This is possible on the basis of the main carer and children to be determined by the Department. It is also possible for a split payment for a couple with no children.
- Managed payment of the housing element of UC direct to the landlord is available to all, with a direct payment to the household available on request to those who meet the criteria
Additional support
In addition to advance payments of UC (which need to be repaid at a later date) NI UC claimants may be able to get extra financial support.
The Financial Support Service supports people who are in need of short term financial assistance.
This short term financial assistance is available from the Finance Support Service as a:
- Universal Credit Contingency Fund Short-term Living Expenses Grant,
- Discretionary Support COVID-19 (Coronavirus) Short-term Living Expenses Grant,
- Discretionary Support
- Short Term Benefit Advance,
- Social Fund Budgeting Loan or
- Social Fund Sure Start Maternity Grant.
More information can be found on the NI Direct website.
Welfare Changes Helpline
An independent helpline is available for anyone in Northern Ireland who wants help or advice about any of the changes to the welfare system. The helpline is operated Advice NI and Law Centre NI.
Additional independent advisers will also be available across all 11 council areas in Northern Ireland and located in local Advice NI offices to provide face-to-face help to anyone impacted by the changes to the welfare system. In addition, specialist legal advice is available from the Law Centre and they can arrange access to specialist services when required. These services are free for anyone who needs help or advice about any of the changes to the welfare system.
Last reviewed/updated 11 May 2025