Move to Universal Credit if you get a Migration Notice letter
You need to move to Universal Credit if you’ve received a Migration Notice letter, as one or more of your benefits will be ending soon.
Applies to England, Scotland and Wales
Only read this guidance if you get a Migration Notice letter
If you have not received a Migration Notice letter visit the Universal Credit guidance.
To continue getting financial support, you must claim Universal Credit by the deadline date in your letter.
Benefits that are ending
The following benefits are ending and are being replaced by Universal Credit:
- Tax credits: Working Tax Credit and Child Tax Credit
- Housing Benefit
- Income Support
- Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)
- Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
Other benefits, such as Personal Independence Payment (PIP), will stay the same.
When you need to apply
To continue receiving financial support you must claim Universal Credit by the deadline date given in your letter. This is 3 months from the date the letter was sent out.
If you cannot claim Universal Credit by the deadline date, you should contact the Universal Credit Migration Notice helpline as soon as possible.
You may be able to get more time to make a claim if you have a good reason. You must request this before the deadline date on your letter.
Who Universal Credit is for
Universal Credit is for people who:
- are on a low income
- need help with living costs
- are working (including self-employed or part time)
- are out of work
- have a health condition that affects their ability to work
Eligibility rules for claiming
As your benefits are ending and you need to move to Universal Credit some of the normal eligibility rules for claiming are different. This is known as ‘transitional protection’. To get transitional protection you must claim by the deadline date on your letter.
If you get tax credits
If you receive tax credits, you can make a Universal Credit claim even if you have money, savings and investments of more than £16,000.
After 12 months, normal eligibility rules will apply. You will not be eligible for Universal Credit if you still have more than £16,000 in money, savings and investments.
If you apply after the deadline date and have money, savings and investments of more than £16,000 you will not be able to claim Universal Credit.
If you’re a student
You can claim Universal Credit if you or your partner are in full-time advanced education (such as university) for the duration of your course. Find out more about Universal Credit and students.
Work Capability Assessments
If you have a health condition or disability, you will not need another Work Capability Assessment (WCA) when you move to Universal Credit if all the following apply:
- you were claiming Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) the day before making a claim to Universal Credit
- you’ve already completed a WCA
- you were assessed as having ‘limited capability for work’ (LCW) or ‘limited capability for work and work related activity’ (LCWRA)
You may need to have another assessment in future as part of your Universal Credit claim.
Find out more about health conditions, disability and Universal Credit.
What you’ll get
On Universal Credit, most people will be entitled to the same amount they received from their previous benefits, or more.
If your circumstances change before you make your claim, this may affect the amount you get.
Your Universal Credit payment is made up of a standard allowance and any extra amounts that apply to you, for example if you:
- have children
- have a disability or health condition which prevents you from working
- need help paying your rent
Find out more about what you’ll get.
‘Transitional protection’ top up payments
If the amount you are entitled to on your existing benefits is more than you’ll get on Universal Credit, a top up is available. This is called ‘transitional protection’.
You can only get this additional amount if you have received a Migration Notice and claim by the deadline date on your letter.
If your circumstances change after you’ve made your claim, any transitional protection you receive may stop.
Benefits calculators
Use a benefits calculator to see an estimation of how much you could get on Universal Credit.
These are free to use and anonymous.
Benefit calculators do not show transitional protection (top up payments) or any deductions for a debt, so may not be accurate.
If you receive tax credits and have money, savings and investments over £16,000, use the entitledto or the Better Off calculator.
See how much you could get by using a benefits calculator.
Other financial help and support
If you get Universal Credit, you could be eligible for other benefits or financial support. You should check what you can get.
You might be able to get different support in Scotland.
Monthly assessment periods
Universal Credit is calculated based on your circumstances each month. These are called your ‘assessment periods’.
Deductions
Money can be taken from your Universal Credit payments to pay for things like:
- court fines
- rent arrears
- overpayments or arrears from tax credits, Council Tax, Housing Benefit, ESA and JSA
- utility debts, like electricity, gas, water
Money cannot be deducted from things like your child allowance, childcare, and housing costs.
Find out more about money taken off your Universal Credit payment.
Earnings
If you are working, how much Universal Credit you get will depend on your earnings. This includes income from working full time, part time, employed or self-employed.
Your circumstances are assessed every month. Changes in your circumstances can affect how much you’re paid for the whole assessment period – not just from the date you report them.
Find out how your wages affect your payments .
What you’ll get if you live with your partner
How much you can get will depend on your partner’s income and savings, as well as your own.
How to claim Universal Credit
You can apply for Universal Credit online.
You need to create an account to make a claim. You must complete your claim within 28 days of creating your account or you’ll have to start again.
When you or your partner make a claim to Universal Credit your existing benefits that are being replaced by Universal Credit will stop. You cannot go back to those benefits, because they are ending.
If you cannot claim online, call the Universal Credit Migration Notice helpline.
How to claim if you live with a partner
You’ll both need to claim Universal Credit if you live with your partner in the same household and are:
- married to each other
- civil partners of each other
- living together as if you are married
You must make a joint claim for your household, even if your partner is not eligible for Universal Credit. You cannot claim by yourself.
To begin, both of you need to create your own Universal Credit online accounts. The first person to create their account will receive a partner code, which will be displayed on screen.
Your partner will then need to use this code when they create their Universal Credit online account. This ensures the accounts are joined together and you are correctly claiming as a couple.
Once you’ve created your account you can make a claim for Universal Credit.
What you’ll need to apply
To apply online you’ll need:
- your bank, building society or credit union account details
- an email address
- access to a phone
To prove your identity, you’ll need some documents such as your:
- driving licence
- passport
- debit or credit card
- payslip or P60
To complete your claim you’ll need to provide information about:
- your housing, for example how much rent you pay
- your earnings, for example payslips
- any disability or health condition that affects your work
- how much you pay for childcare if you want help with childcare costs
- your savings and any investments, like shares or a property that you rent out
You might need an appointment with the Universal Credit team if:
- they need more information
- you cannot verify your identity online
You’ll be told if this appointment will be in a jobcentre or on the phone.
Apply for Universal Credit online
Steps to making a claim
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Set up an Online Universal Credit account.
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Complete and submit online claim.
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Prove your identity.
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Provide documents and evidence to support your claim.
How you’re paid
Universal Credit is paid once a month, usually into your bank, building society or credit union account.
If you’re not able to open a bank, building society or credit union account, call the Universal Credit Migration Notice helpline for advice about how to arrange a different way of getting paid.
Your payment can include an amount for housing costs, which you’ll usually need to pay to your landlord. If your landlord was being paid your housing costs directly, you’ll need to discuss the change of payment arrangements with them.
Alternative Payment Arrangements (APA) and payment to landlords
If you’re having financial difficulties or you’re behind on your rent, you or your landlord may be able to apply for an Alternative Payment Arrangement (APA).
Depending on your circumstances, you could get an APA to:
- get your rent paid directly to your landlord
- get paid more frequently than once a month
- receive split payments, if you’re part of a couple
You can apply for an APA through your Universal Credit online account once you’ve made your claim.
Final payments for existing benefits
The date of your final payments from your existing benefits depends on whichever is first:
- the deadline date on your letter
- when you make a claim to Universal Credit
If any further payments are due, they will be made shortly after your entitlement ends.
Moving from tax credits
If you claim tax credits, your entitlement will end as soon as you make a claim to Universal Credit.
If you do not make a claim by the deadline, your tax credit entitlement will end on the day before the deadline.
Moving from other benefits
If you’ve applied for Universal Credit, you’ll keep getting your current benefit paid for 2 more weeks. You must still be eligible for your current benefit. You will not need to pay back these extra payments and they will not affect the Universal Credit you might get.
This only applies if you’re getting:
- income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)
- income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
- Income Support
- Housing Benefit
If you do not make a claim to Universal Credit by the deadline, your last day of entitlement to your existing benefits will be 2 weeks after the deadline.
Your first Universal Credit payment
It usually takes around 5 weeks to get your first payment.
If you need help with your living costs while you wait for your first payment, you can apply for an advance within your Universal Credit online account.
You’ll need to pay back your advance in instalments from your future Universal Credit payments.
Payment dates
After the first payment, you’ll be paid on the same date of every month.
If you live in Scotland, you can get paid once or twice a month. Find out more about payment dates if you live in Scotland .
If your payment date is on a weekend or bank holiday, you’ll be paid on the working day before.
You’ll get a monthly statement that tells you how much Universal Credit you’re going to get. You can view this in your online account.
If your payment does not arrive on time, send us a message using your online account or phone the Universal Credit helpline.
If you live with a partner
If you both claim Universal Credit, you’ll get one payment each month for your household.
Phone the Universal Credit Migration Notice helpline if you’re worried about getting access to this money.
Your responsibilities
Your responsibilities will depend on your circumstances.
When you have made your claim to Universal Credit you’ll need to manage your own finances and maintain your claim online. This includes:
- updating your account, known as a ‘journal’
- attending jobcentre appointments, if appropriate
- managing your own rent and other housing costs, unless you have another payment arrangement in place
- reporting changes in circumstances
Changes in circumstances you must tell us about
Changes to your personal details, including:
- moving to another address
- changing your email address or phone number
- changing your bank details
Work and money changes, including:
- your earnings going up and down
- your rent going up and down
- finding or finishing a job
- changes to your money, savings and investments
Health changes, including:
- changes to your health condition
- becoming too ill to work or meet your work coach
Household changes, including:
- having a child
- starting to care for a child or disabled person
- moving in with your partner
- changes to your immigration status, if you’re not a British citizen
You could be taken to court or have to pay a penalty if you deliberately give wrong information or do not report a change in your circumstances.
Support
Universal Credit Migration Notice helpline
Phone: 0800 169 0328
Relay UK (if you cannot hear or speak on the phone): 18001 then 0800 169 0328
Video relay service for British Sign Language (BSL) users. Watch the video to find out how to use the Video relay service on mobile or tablet
Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm
0800 phone numbers are free to call from mobiles and landlines.
Help to Claim
You can also get free support from the Citizens Advice Help to Claim service.
Financial support
If you’re in financial difficulties, you can get help and advice from the government, local councils, and other organisations, such as advicelocal.uk.
Last updated 20 February 2024 + show all updates
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If you’re not able to open a bank, building society or credit union account, call the Universal Credit Migration Notice helpline for advice about how to arrange a different way of getting paid. If your payment does not arrive on time, send us a message using your online account or phone the Universal Credit helpline.
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Added links to the new transitional protection guidance.
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You can now use the 'entitledto' benefits calculator if you receive tax credits and have more than £16,000 in money, savings and investments.
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Added translation
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This guidance also applies to Scotland from 31 July 2023.
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Money can also be taken from your Universal Credit payment to pay for tax credits overpayments.
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First published.