The Universal Credit (Transitional Provisions) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2016

Advance payments of universal credit

17.—(1) This regulation applies where—

(a) the Department is deciding a claim for universal credit, other than a claim which is treated as having been made, in accordance with regulation 8(8) of the Claims and Payments Regulations;

(b) the claimant is, or was previously, entitled to an existing benefit (“the earlier award”); and

(c) if the earlier award terminated before the date on which the claim for universal credit was made, the claim for universal credit was made during the period of one month starting with the date of termination.

(2) Where this regulation applies—

(a) a single claimant may request an advance payment of universal credit; and

(b) joint claimants may jointly request such a payment,

at any time during the first assessment period for universal credit.

(3) Where a request has been made in accordance with this regulation, the Department may make an advance payment to the claimant, or joint claimants, of such amount in respect of universal credit as it considers appropriate.

(4) After an advance payment has been made under this regulation, payments of any award of universal credit to the claimant or, in the case of joint claimants, to either or both of them, may be reduced until the amount of the advance payment is repaid.

(5) In this regulation “single claimant”, in relation to universal credit, has the same meaning as in Part 2 of the Order;