The Department for Communities has announced that the ‘Move to UC’ will begin on 16 October.
Following the conclusion of a small scale ‘Discovery Phase’ involving approximately 500 people in the Andersonstown and Enniskillen areas, the Department will now start to issue Migration Notice letters to people in all postcode areas across Northern Ireland receiving Working Tax Credits and/or Child Tax Credits and no other benefits.
The Migration Notice letter will tell them that they will need to make a claim to Universal Credit within three months from the date of their letter.
It is important that people do not take any action unless they receive a Migration Notice letter from the Department for Communities. Making a claim before receiving a Migration Notice could result in loss of transitional protection at the point of transfer.
Anyone that receives a Migration Notice should seek independent advice.