Benefits in Northern Ireland
This is a hub of benefits that apply if you live in Northern Ireland. It is not a duplicate of each benefit page. Where a devolved payment replaces a reserved one, both are listed so you can open the one that matches where you live.
Northern Ireland uses nidirect rather than some GOV.UK claim routes. PIP, Attendance Allowance and Carer’s Allowance still apply. Rate Relief replaces Council Tax Reduction. Some contribution-based JSA and ESA routes are described on nidirect rather than the Great Britain GOV.UK guidance pages.
These are not language variants of the same page. There is no hreflang between nations — the benefit set is genuinely different.
Check eligibility as someone living in Northern Ireland
It usually takes about 5 minutes. You do not need to create an account. This is guidance, not a government decision.
England, Wales and Northern Ireland
Attendance Allowance
A benefit for people of State Pension age who need help with personal care or supervision because of a disability or health condition. It is not means-tested.
UK-wide
Bereavement Support Payment
A contribution-based payment if your spouse or civil partner has died and they paid enough National Insurance. It is paid as an initial lump sum plus monthly payments for a limited period.
UK-wide
Blue Badge
A parking badge that helps people with disabilities or health conditions that affect walking park closer to where they need to go. Councils issue it. It is not a DWP cash benefit.
England, Wales and Northern Ireland
Carer's Allowance
A payment if you spend a lot of time caring for someone who gets certain disability benefits. Scotland has Carer Support Payment instead for most new claims.
UK-wide
Child Benefit
A regular payment to help with the cost of bringing up a child. It is usually paid if you are responsible for a child under 16, or under 20 if they stay in approved education or training.
UK-wideClosed to new claims
Child Tax Credit
Child Tax Credit has ended for new claims. It was an HMRC payment for people responsible for children. Universal Credit and Child Benefit are the usual current routes.
England, Wales and Northern Ireland
Cold Weather Payment
A payment when the temperature in your postcode area is, or is forecast to be, at or below a set threshold for 7 days in a row, if you get a qualifying benefit. It is usually paid automatically.
England, Wales and Northern Ireland
Disability Living Allowance for children
A benefit for children under 16 who need extra looking after or have walking difficulties because of a disability or health condition. Scotland uses Child Disability Payment.
UK-wide
Discretionary Housing Payment
Extra, limited help from your council toward a rent shortfall if you already get Housing Benefit or the housing element of Universal Credit. It is discretionary, not an entitlement, and budgets run out.
UK-wide
Free school meals
A school-age meal at no cost if you get certain benefits, with extra automatic provision for some infant year groups. Each UK nation sets its own rules and how you apply.
UK-wide
Funded childcare hours
Government-funded hours with an approved childcare provider. In England this includes age-based offers sometimes described as 15 or 30 hours. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland run their own funded-hours schemes.
England, Wales and Northern Ireland
Funeral Expenses Payment
A payment toward a funeral if you get certain income-related benefits and you are the person arranging it. Scotland has Funeral Support Payment instead. It often does not cover the full cost.
England, Wales and Northern Ireland
Healthy Start
Help to buy milk, fruit, vegetables and vitamins if you are pregnant or have a child under 4 and you get certain benefits. Scotland has Best Start Foods instead.
UK-wide
Housing Benefit
Help towards rent if you are on a low income. Most working-age people now claim housing costs through Universal Credit instead. Housing Benefit still applies in some situations, including many people of State Pension age.
UK-wideClosed to new claims
Income Support
Income Support is closed to most new claims. It was an income-related DWP benefit for some people who could not be required to look for work. Universal Credit replaced it for most working-age people.
UK-wideClosed to new claims
Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance
Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance has ended for new claims. It was the means-tested version of JSA. Universal Credit replaced it. New Style JSA is different — that is contribution-based and still exists.
UK-wideClosed to new claims
Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
Income-related ESA has ended for most new claims. It was the means-tested version of ESA. Universal Credit replaced it. New Style ESA is different — that is contribution-based and still exists.
UK-wide
Marriage Allowance
An HMRC tax allowance that lets a spouse or civil partner who earns less than the personal allowance transfer a portion of it to a basic-rate taxpayer. It is not a DWP benefit.
UK-wide
Maternity Allowance
A payment for 39 weeks if you are employed or self-employed but cannot get Statutory Maternity Pay from an employer.
UK-wide
Pension Credit
An income-related benefit for people who have reached State Pension age and have a low income. It can also help with housing costs, council tax and other support.
England, Wales and Northern Ireland
Personal Independence Payment
A benefit to help with extra costs if you have a long-term physical or mental health condition or disability and you have difficulty doing certain everyday tasks or getting around.
Northern Ireland
Rate Relief
Help with domestic rates in Northern Ireland if you are on a low income. This is the Northern Ireland equivalent of Council Tax Reduction. Working-age people on Universal Credit usually claim Rate Rebate; Housing Benefit and Rate Relief still apply for many people of State Pension age.
UK-wide
Statutory Maternity Pay
A legal payment from your employer for up to 39 weeks if you are an employee and you meet continuity of employment and average-earnings tests. It is not claimed from DWP.
UK-wide
Statutory Sick Pay
A legal minimum your employer pays if you are an employee, you earn enough, and you are too ill to work for 4 or more days in a row. There is no public application form.
UK-wide
Support for Mortgage Interest
A loan to help with interest on your mortgage if you get certain income-related benefits. It is not a grant and usually has to be repaid.
UK-wide
Tax-Free Childcare
An HMRC scheme where you pay into an online account for registered childcare and the government adds a contribution, up to a yearly cap. It is not a DWP benefit and usually cannot be combined with Universal Credit childcare costs for the same costs.
UK-wide
Universal Credit
A monthly payment to help with living costs if you are on a low income, out of work, or cannot work. It can include amounts for housing, children, disability, and caring.
UK-wide
Winter Fuel Payment
A yearly tax-free payment to help older people with heating costs. Eligibility has changed in recent years, so always check the current GOV.UK rules before assuming you will get it.
UK-wideClosed to new claims
Working Tax Credit
Working Tax Credit has ended for new claims. It was an HMRC payment for people on a low income who were working. Universal Credit replaced it for most working-age people.