The Department for Work and Pensions, or DWP, is in the process of moving remaining claimants from certain legacy benefits onto the Universal Credit, or UC, system. This process is known as managed migration.
If you are affected, you will receive an official letter called a Migration Notice.
This letter is not advisory; it is a legal instruction that requires you to actively make a new claim for Universal Credit by a specific deadline.
Failing to act on this notice will result in the complete stopping of your existing benefit payments.
The DWP provides a limited window to make the new claim, and understanding the steps and protections available is essential to ensure the continuation of your financial support.
What are the legacy benefits being replaced by Universal Credit?
Universal Credit is designed to replace six older, means-tested benefits, which are collectively known as the legacy benefits.
If you are receiving any of these, you are likely to be contacted by the DWP to migrate.
The benefits being replaced are:
- Income Support
- Income based Jobseeker’s Allowance, or JSA
- Income related Employment and Support Allowance, or ESA
- Housing Benefit
- Child Tax Credit
- Working Tax Credit
If you receive a Migration Notice, your existing benefits will end even if you choose not to claim Universal Credit.
Other benefits, such as Personal Independence Payment, Carer’s Allowance, and Disability Living Allowance, are not being replaced and will continue to be paid separately.
What is the deadline to claim and what happens if I miss it?
Your Migration Notice letter will contain a deadline by which you must claim Universal Credit.
This deadline is usually three months from the date the DWP sent the notice to you.
- Claim Before the Deadline: If you claim Universal Credit by the deadline day, you will be considered for Transitional Protection.
- Claim After the Deadline: If you miss the deadline, your legacy benefits will stop, and you will not be entitled to Transitional Protection. You can still claim Universal Credit, but you could end up receiving less money than you were getting before.
- Final Deadline: There is a final deadline, which is one calendar month after your initial deadline day. If you claim within this extra month, the DWP may still consider you for Transitional Protection.
If you are struggling to meet the deadline, you should call the Universal Credit Migration Notice helpline immediately to ask for an extension, which may be granted if you have a good reason.
What is Transitional Protection and how does it work?
Transitional Protection is a safeguard designed to ensure that you are not financially worse off when you are moved from your legacy benefits to Universal Credit.
- The Top Up: If the amount of Universal Credit you are entitled to is calculated to be less than the total amount you were receiving from your legacy benefits, the DWP will give you an extra payment, called a Transitional Element, to make up the difference.
- Claiming on Time: This protection is only available if you receive a Migration Notice and make your claim for Universal Credit before the deadline day.
- Erosion: The Transitional Element is not permanent. It remains at the same level until your Universal Credit entitlement increases or you have a significant change in circumstances, such as moving in with a partner or stopping work, at which point the protection may reduce or cease entirely.
How do I claim Universal Credit after the notice?
You must make a claim for Universal Credit yourself; the move is not automatic.
The DWP’s Migration Notice letter will contain specific instructions on how to proceed.
The application can be started in one of two ways:
- Online: You can start your claim online through the official government website. This is the DWP’s preferred method and will require you to set up an account and verify your identity.
- Helpline: If you cannot claim online, you can call the dedicated Universal Credit Migration Notice helpline for assistance, which is free to use.
If you live with a partner, both of you must make a joint claim and will need to create separate online accounts that are then linked together.
Do I need to worry about the five-week waiting period?
Universal Credit is paid monthly in arrears, meaning there is typically a waiting period of around five weeks between the date you make your claim and the date you receive your first payment.
This gap is necessary to calculate your first monthly award.
To help bridge this gap, you can apply for a Universal Credit Advance Payment, which is an interest-free loan from the DWP.
You can apply for this during your claim process, and the amount is then automatically deducted from your future Universal Credit payments, usually over a maximum of 24 months.
Furthermore, when migrating, claimants who were receiving Income Support, Income-based JSA, Income-related ESA, or Housing Benefit will receive a two-week run-on of those benefits after they claim Universal Credit.
What information should I prepare before claiming?
To avoid delays and ensure your claim is processed correctly, it is helpful to gather all necessary information before you start your Universal Credit application.
The DWP will need details regarding:
- Identity: Documents to confirm your identity, such as a passport or driving licence.
- Housing: Information about your home and rent, including your landlord’s details and the amount of rent you pay.
- Financials: Details of all income from work, and any savings, investments, or assets you possess.
- Bank Details: The details of the bank or building society account you want your monthly Universal Credit payments sent to.
- Partner’s Details: If you live with a partner, you will need all of their equivalent personal and financial details to make the joint claim.
Where can I get help and support with the migration?
Due to the complexity of the migration process and the potential for losing Transitional Protection, the DWP encourages claimants to seek impartial advice.
- Help to Claim: Citizens Advice provides a free, confidential service called Help to Claim, which offers dedicated support for starting your Universal Credit application, including help with the online process and preparing for your initial work coach interview.
- DWP Helpline: You can also call the official Universal Credit Migration Notice helpline for direct assistance and to discuss potential extensions to your deadline.
Seeking expert advice is highly recommended, especially if you have complex circumstances or are concerned that you may be financially worse off.
