What benefits can you get when you lose your job?

If you’ve been made redundant, you will probably be able to get statutory redundancy pay if:

• you were an employee
• you’ve paid enough national insurance
• you worked for your employer for at least two years

Your employer may also pay you contractual redundancy. Check your employment contact to find out.

To get help with housing costs or raising children, you’ll need to apply for universal credit as well. How much you get is based on your household income, so your partner’s income will be taken into account.

If you pay rent, you may be able to get help with this from the housing costs element of universal credit.

If you were getting housing benefit when you lost your job, this may count as a change of circumstance meaning you'll have to claim universal credit instead.

If you qualify for universal credit, you’ll get housing benefit for two weeks after sending in your universal credit claim before it stops.

If you were getting child tax credit or working tax credit when you lost your job, you may be able to make a new claim. But losing your job may count as a change of circumstance and you may need to apply for universal credit instead.

If you were getting tax credits and you apply for universal credit, you’ll need to tell the Tax Credit Office within 30 days. You can ring the helpline on 0345 300 3900.

If you go back to work, you need to let Jobcentre Plus (your Jobs & Benefits office in Northern Ireland) know. You must also inform HMRC or you could be fined.

If your income is still low, you may still qualify for certain benefits such as working tax credit or housing benefit.

If you’re on universal credit, the amount you get may go down gradually until your income increases to the point you’re no longer entitled to it.