Move to Universal Credit migration begins in Northern Ireland

The migration of Tax Credit and legacy benefit claimants to Universal Credit in Northern Ireland began in October 2023 and is known as Move to Universal Credit¹. Under the process, current legacy benefit claimants are invited by the Department for Communities to make a Universal Credit claim¹. One publication gives the start date as 16 October 2023⁴.

Universal Credit replaces six existing benefits and tax credits: Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance, Income-related Employment and Support Allowance, Income Support, Working Tax Credit, Child Tax Credit and Housing Benefit⁵. Universal Credit began rolling out on a phased geographical basis in Northern Ireland on 27 September 2017, and roll out for new claims completed on 5 December 2018⁵.

By the end of February 2026, a total of 127,560 notification letters had been sent inviting legacy benefit claimants to begin their migration to Universal Credit⁵. Of those households who had reached their migration deadline by the end of February 2026, 88% had made a claim to Universal Credit, a rate higher for single claims (92%) than couple claims (73%)⁵. In February 2026, 1,580 migrated households received a Universal Credit award, bringing the total number of households completing their migration to 87,590⁵. The methodology used to calculate the number of notifications and claims by legacy benefit claimants migrating to Universal Credit has been revised to improve accuracy⁵.

The Department for Communities describes the process in these terms:

Caseload figures for Northern Ireland show the shift away from the benefits Universal Credit replaces. At November 2025 there were 262,800 Universal Credit claimants, an increase of 49,990 (23%) on a year earlier, while Jobseeker's Allowance stood at 990 claimants, a decrease of 3,080 (76%), and Income Support at 10 claimants, a decrease of 5,690 (100%)². Employment and Support Allowance stood at 64,850 claimants, a decrease of 26,620 (29%) on a year earlier².

Figures are as published by the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency, rounded to the nearest 10². Universal Credit statistics are designated 'Official Statistics in Development', while the other benefit statistics are Accredited Official Statistics².

At February 2026, 238,730 households were on the Universal Credit caseload, an increase of 4.1% from November 2025, and 272,280 individual claimants were on Universal Credit, an increase of 3.5% from November 2025 and 24.2% from February 2025⁵. The average monthly amount of Universal Credit paid to the 226,590 households in payment was £1,000, no change from February 2025⁵.

Why it matters for households

The migration changes which benefit a household receives and how it is paid. Universal Credit provides a single award per household based on its circumstances, with support for housing costs, children and childcare costs integrated as additional elements, plus additions for disabled people and carers⁵. It is available to people in work and on a low income as well as those out of work⁵.

Claimants affected are those on Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance, Income Support, Housing Benefit and Tax Credits, as well as Income-related Employment and Support Allowance customers who are also in receipt of Tax Credits⁴. Claimants are invited to claim by the Department for Communities rather than moving automatically¹.

The practical effect is visible in the caseload numbers. Income Support in Northern Ireland fell from 5,700 claimants in November 2024 to 10 in November 2025, and Jobseeker's Allowance from 4,070 to 990 over the same period, while Universal Credit rose by 49,990². Households that have not yet received a notification letter have not been reported as having a migration date.

What happens next

The Department for Communities has not reported an end date for the Move to Universal Credit phase in the publications covering the period to February 2026⁵. Notification letters continue to be issued: 127,560 had been sent by the end of February 2026⁵. Households that receive a letter are given a deadline by which to claim, and the proportion reaching that deadline and claiming was 88% at February 2026⁵.

For background on the process, see Moving to Universal Credit from legacy benefits and what to do if you get a migration notice. Details of how the benefit is calculated are set out in Universal Credit: who can claim and how it works, with housing support covered in Help with rent.