Cost of living help in Northern Ireland

For a full check, use our free benefits check or ring Make the Call.

Energy bills and keeping warm

If you are worried about paying your gas and electricity bills, help is available. You can contact your energy supplier, explore payment choices, ask for help or get free confidential advice.

Heat your main living room to around 18 to 21ºC and the rest of the house to at least 16ºC. If you can't heat every room, keep the living room warm through the day and heat your bedroom before bed. If your boiler is more than 15 years old, you may want to think about upgrading. See Affordable Warmth.

Mortgage arrears

If you can't meet your mortgage repayments or you're worried you might fall behind, contact your lender as soon as possible. The law says they must treat you fairly and take your circumstances into account. See repossession help.

Help with rates

People on low incomes can get help to pay their rate bill. Pensioners may get help through Housing Benefit and Rate Relief or the Lone Pensioner Allowance; on Universal Credit, apply for Rate Rebate. See Housing Benefit and rate relief.

Pension Credit

Pension Credit tops up weekly income to £238 if you’re single, or joint weekly income to £363.25 if you have a partner. If your income is higher, you might still be eligible if you have a disability, you care for someone, you have savings or you have housing costs.

Universal Credit

Universal Credit is a payment for people over 18 but under State Pension age who are on a low income or out of work. To get it, you must not have money, savings and investments over £16,000 (unless a Capital disregard applies).

If you are made redundant

Contact the Make the Call benefit advice line to make sure you get every benefit, service and support you are entitled to. See redundancy pay.

If you have been overpaid

An over-payment is an amount which has been paid to you that you were not entitled to receive. It's important to report any change in your circumstances as soon as possible. If you aren’t satisfied with the explanation, you can appeal a benefits decision.

Staying in your own home

If you need help at home, such as cleaning or a bath rail, you may be entitled to financial help and direct payments. If you find it difficult to collect your pension or other benefits, you can nominate a trusted friend or relative to collect on your behalf.

Common questions

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