IMPORTANT: If you claim UC before receiving your Migration Notice and are worse off on UC, you will miss out on any Transitional Protection you would have been entitled to.
The following benefits are being replaced by Universal Credit
The following benefits are being replaced by Universal Credit – they are called the legacy benefits:
- Working Tax Credit
- Child Tax Credit
- Income-Related Employment and Support Allowance
- Income Support
- Income-Based Jobseekers Allowance
- Housing Benefit
If you are working age^ (i.e. under 66) and receiving one (or more) of these benefits then you will need to move over to Universal Credit. For most people this will be at some point during 2024.
When it is your turn to move over, you will receive a letter – called a Migration Notice. You won’t be moved automatically, but the letter will explain what you need to do and help is available.
You don’t need to do anything until you receive your Migration Notice (unless you have a change that ‘triggers’ the need for you to claim Universal Credit – see Do I have to claim? for more information).
^ If you are State Pension age (i.e. 66 or over), getting Working Tax Credit and are not getting any Pension Credit, then you may receive a Migration Notice offering you Universal Credit. You should speak to a Benefits Adviser to check that this is your best option.
What is Managed Migration?
Managed Migration is the final phase of the rollout of Universal Credit.
The DWP is gradually contacting those who are still claiming ‘legacy’ benefits to notify them that those benefits will be ending, and inviting them to claim Universal Credit instead.
All Tax Credit claimants should be migrated by April 2025. Most other ‘legacy’ benefit claimants are planned to be migrated during 2024 and 2025.
Managed Migration happens when the DWP send a ‘legacy’ benefit claimant a Migration Notice – this is a letter which explains that their existing legacy benefits are due to end and if they need the financial support these benefits were providing, that they will need to claim Universal Credit instead. Whether they claim UC or not, their existing ‘legacy’ benefits will end.
Failure to claim Universal Credit within the set time limits given could result in a gap between someone’s ‘legacy’ benefits ending and Universal Credit starting.
IMPORTANT: Some ‘legacy’ benefit claimants are worse off on Universal Credit. These claimants will receive Transitional Protection if they make their UC claim after receiving their Migration Notice and by the deadline given in their letter. So, if you don’t have a change that triggers the need for you to claim UC, and you would be worse off on UC, then don’t claim until after you have received your Migration Notice.
How will I know when it is my turn?
When it is your turn to move onto Universal Credit you will be send a formal Migration Notice. This is a letter notifying you that your legacy benefit entitlement is due to end and inviting you to claim Universal Credit instead.
Migration Notices are being sent Tax Credit claimants this year, including some State Pension age claimants from August 2024.
If you are getting Income Support, Income-Based Jobseeker’s Allowance, Tax Credits or Housing Benefit you can also expect to receive a Migration Notice between April and September 2024 .
It is anticipated that those getting Income-Related Employment and Support Allowance and no Tax Credits will receive their Migration Notice between September 2024 and December 2025.
If you do receive a Migration Notice – don’t ignore it. Your legacy benefits will end.
I’ve received a letter but I’m not sure if it is a Migration Notice
If it gives you a date by which you must claim Universal Credit, then it is probably a Migration Notice. It will state: ‘This is a migration notice issued under Regulation 44 of the Universal Credit (Transitional Provisions) Regulations 2024.’
If you are still unsure, seek advice.
I get Income-Related ESA and Housing Benefit – when will I get my Migration Notice?
You will receive your Migration Notice sometime between September 2024 and December 2025. So you do not need to claim Universal Credit yet.
Certain changes in your circumstances may ‘trigger’ the need for you to claim before then. (See Do I have to claim? for more information.)
If I am having to move onto Universal Credit at some point, why don’t I just make a claim now?
Some people are worse off on Universal Credit.
When the DWP sends someone a Migration Notice they have no choice but to claim UC. But the DWP do not think it would be fair if the change made them immediately worse off. So, they have put in place some Transitional Protections to prevent this from happening in most cases.
But if you claim Universal Credit before receiving a Migration Notice these protections will not apply.
See Transitional Protection for information.
IMPORTANT: If you are unsure whether you should claim or when you will need to claim Universal Credit, then speak to a Benefits Adviser.