From April 2023 until 2029, the government are writing to people on legacy benefits, such as Working Tax Credit, saying they must claim Universal Credit (the benefits they were receiving previously) will be coming to an end. This is called ‘managed migration.’
Find out more about:
- the managed migration timetable
- if you've got a migration notice
- if you can’t claim by the migration deadline
- self-help calculators
- help with making a claim for Universal Credit and managing your claim
Managed migration timetable
From April 2023 to April 2024, those on Working Tax Credit or Child Tax Credit and not on any other 'legacy benefit' will be sent a letter ('Migration Notices') inviting them to claim Universal Credit - this group is being called 'Tax Credits only'
In 2024 and 2025 the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) plan to send Migration Notices to the rest of those on Tax Credits and most other legacy benefits
By the end of 2024 to 2025 tax year, most will have received migration notices
The remaining Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) cases and ESA and Housing Benefit cases will be invited in 2028 and 2029
If you’ve got a migration notice
If you get a 'Migration Notice' letter you do not have a choice, you'll have to migrate to Universal Credit. You should not ignore your Migration Notice. You must claim Universal Credit within the deadline in the letter.
Your old benefits will stop after the deadline. If you claim Universal Credit before the deadline, the DWP might pay you a little bit extra to stop you being worse off. This is called ‘transitional protection.’ This means that if you’d get less on Universal Credit than your old benefits, you’ll get an extra amount to make up the difference. The DWP will reduce the extra amount over time - so you’ll eventually just get what you normally would on Universal Credit.
Transitional protection also means you might be able to get Universal Credit when you wouldn’t usually be entitled to it. If you:
- are a full-time student who wouldn’t usually get Universal Credit, you can usually get it until the end of your course
- get tax credits and have over £16,000 savings, you can get Universal Credit for up to a year
If you can’t claim by the migration deadline
If the deadline hasn’t passed yet, you can ask the DWP to extend it. You can only ask for this before the original deadline in the letter. If the DWP agree, they’ll send you a new deadline.
If the deadline has passed, you can still get transitional protection if you claim Universal Credit up to a month after the deadline. The end of the month is called the ‘final deadline’.
If you claim after the final deadline, you can still claim Universal Credit - but you can’t get the transitional protection.
If you need help moving on to Universal Credit, you can talk to the Citizens Advice 'Help to Claim' advisers.
Self-help calculators
Self-help calculators help you compare your legacy benefits with Universal Credit. If you're unsure about how moving to Universal Credit will impact you, you should seek advice from the Citizens Advice 'Help to Claim' advisers.
There are some aspects of Universal Credit that can cause problems for people and could make you worse off. Here's some examples to consider:
- Universal Credit is paid monthly in arrears
- you must wait at least 5 weeks for the first payment after a new claim
- you're expected to claim and manage your Universal Credit online
- the 'help with rent' is paid with your Universal Credit, and you then must pay the rent yourself to the landlord
- after a new claim for Universal Credit, old Tax Credit arrears may be deducted from your Universal Credit
- if your Universal Credit is lower than your legacy benefits you drop down to that level. The only time you are protected from a drop is if you have the Severe Disability Premium paid with some of your legacy benefits and when managed migration applies
Please note: you'll be required to have a 'claimant commitment' outlining activities you and your partner (if applicable) must do for payment; expectations vary depending on your circumstances such as on health, caring duties, and employment status.
Help with making a claim for Universal Credit and managing your claim
Citizens Advice 'Help to Claim' advisers can help you with the early stages of your Universal Credit claim. You can talk to them on telephone: 0800 144 8444 (Monday to Friday, 8.00am to 6.00pm) or online over chat.
Advisers can help you:
- work out if you can get Universal Credit
- fill in the Universal Credit application
- prepare for your first Jobcentre appointment
- check your first payment is correct
You can read online advice on Universal Credit at any time. You can also read the Citizens Advice pages about applying for Universal Credit.
Local benefit advice services are also able to help you make your claim.
Read more about understanding Universal Credit.
Alternatively, watch the DWP YouTube videos. For example, watch 'Is Universal Credit for me? and What support is available to me?' - YouTube.