Universal Credit migration

What to do if you receive a Migration Notice letter for Universal Credit

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has announced that Universal Credit in the UK is replacing a range of existing means-tested benefits and tax credits often called ‘legacy benefits’ for working-age households. Universal Credit has been available across the UK since December 2013, for people who make new benefit claims, who claim because their circumstances change (‘natural migration’) or who choose to move from legacy benefits to Universal Credit (‘voluntary migration’). Eventually, all remaining legacy benefit claimants will be contacted by the DWP and told they must claim Universal Credit to continue to receive means-tested support (‘managed migration’). When this stage is complete, legacy benefits and tax credits for people of working age will no longer exist.

I’ve received a Migration Notice letter, what do I do?

When you need to move to Universal Credit, you will be sent a Migration Notice letter from the DWP telling you that your legacy benefit awards will end and that you must make a claim for Universal Credit. You will be given a deadline for claiming which will be three months from the date of the Migration Notice letter. If you don’t think you can make a claim within the required timeframe, please contact the Universal Credit Migration Notice Helpline.

The DWP sends reminder letters, and support is available for you from the Universal Credit Migration Notice helpline, online guidance, and the Help to Claim service. We can also support you through our free Better Days programme, where we can offer you expert and practical financial or debt advice. Simply visit our help and support page to find out more or visit our myMoney page.

What is transitional protection?

If your total legacy benefit payment is more than you would get on Universal Credit, the difference is paid to you every month as a ‘transitional element’. Universal Credit is paid once a month, usually into your bank, building society or credit union account.

If you’re not able to make your claim by the deadline provided in the Migration Notice please contact the Universal Credit Migration Notice Helpline.

From 24 August 2024, the DWP will also be sending Universal Credit Migration Notices to move pension age customers who claim Working Tax Credit to Universal Credit. This is because all tax credits are closing. Pension age customers in receipt of Child Tax Credit will receive a letter asking then to claim Pension Credit within a three month period.

Tips if you have received a managed Migration Notice letter

Make sure you claim by the deadline to ensure that you get the transitional element
Make sure you have maximised your legacy benefit award before migrating, as this will maximise the amount of the transitional element. You can learn more about how to calculate your benefits here
Consider the timing if you are coming up to the end of a financial year – every time that Universal Credit rates increase (normally every April), the transitional element you get will be eroded.

Will there be a gap between my old benefits ending and my Universal Credit starting?

It takes five weeks for the DWP to put Universal Credit into payment, so you will need to prepare for this delay. Tax credits will stop as soon as Universal Credit is claimed. Housing Benefit, Income Support, Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance and Income-related Employment and Support Allowance will stop two weeks after Universal Credit is claimed.

You can request an advance from Universal Credit, but this is a loan and will be deducted from your following payments.

To find out more about moving to Universal Credit from other benefits, please visit the Citizens Advice website.

If you’d like some step-by-step instructions on how to make a Universal Credit claim, you can watch a helpful video from the UK Government.