The Migration Notice letter and moving to Universal Credit
Some old benefits are ending and people on these benefits have to move to Universal Credit.
These are sometimes called legacy benefits.
The legacy benefits that are ending are:
-
Income
Income is all the money you get from things like paid jobs and government benefits.
-related
Employment
Employment means having a job.
and Support Allowance (ESA) -
Tax
Tax is the money that pays for things like schools, hospitals and the police. There are different types of taxes like income tax, VAT and council tax.
credits: Working Tax Credit and Child Tax Credit - Housing Benefit
- Income Support
- Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)
Will I lose benefits?
You will not lose your benefits if you apply for Universal Credit by the deadline date written on a Migration Notice A migration notice is a letter saying that one of your benefits will stop and you need to claim a different benefit. letter from the Department for Work and Pensions The Department for Work and Pensions is sometimes called the DWP. It is part of the government and manages payments and benefits like Universal Credit, Personal Independence Payment, Employment and Support Allowance, and Income Support. ( DWP DWP stands for the government Department for Work and Pensions. ), or if you speak to them to ask for support.
The deadline date is when you need to apply to Universal Credit by. It will typically be 12 weeks from when the letter is sent to you.
How to move to Universal Credit
1. Look out for your DWP letter
If you are on a legacy benefit the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) will send a letter to you.
This letter is called a ‘Migration Notice’.
2. Apply for Universal Credit within 3 months
The Migration Notice letter from the DWP will tell you that you have to apply for Universal Credit within three months.
The letter will tell you how to claim Universal Credit, but if you can’t apply online, you can ask for help to claim it in a different way.
If you do not apply within the three month deadline your legacy benefits will stop and you will not be able to claim the legacy benefit anymore.
Get help to move to Universal Credit
If you need help to apply for Universal Credit you can ask the DWP for support. They have a Universal Credit Migration Notice helpline for anyone who requires extra support.
You can also contact the Learning Disability Helpline for support.
How to use this advice tool (Easy Read)
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Read the instructionsWhat support do you need?
What happens next?
If you apply for Universal Credit within 3 months, and the money you get is less than what you get now, you will get extra money called transitional protection. This means you will still get the same amount as you do now.
If you meet the criteria you will get transitional protection if you apply for Universal Credit within three months of receiving the letter, or if you ask for extra support with your application in the three months.
The transitional protection you get might reduce over time or if your circumstances change.
Once you have moved over to Universal Credit, you will not be able to claim the legacy benefit anymore.
Questions and answers about moving your benefits to Universal Credit
Call the Universal Credit Migration Notice helpline by:
- Phone: 0800 169 0328 or;
- If you cannot speak or hear on the phone call Relay UK: 18001 then 0800 169 0328.
If you do not apply within the three month deadline your legacy benefits will stop and you will not be able to claim the legacy benefit anymore.
If you are unable to apply for Universal Credit within the three month deadline, you can let the DWP know by calling their helpline:
- Phone: 0800 169 0328 or;
- If you cannot speak or hear on the phone call Relay UK: 18001 then 0800 169 0328.
You should get your first payment of Universal Credit about five weeks after you apply.
You should receive the same amount or more on Universal Credit. Some people may get less - if you get less contact DWP to ask them why.
If you apply for Universal Credit before the three months runs out, you will get paid your legacy benefit for two more weeks if you are still eligible for it.
This only applies if you are getting:
- income-related Employment and Support Allowance Employment and Support Allowance is sometimes called ESA. It is a benefit for people who find it harder to get a job because of a disability or a long term health condition. (ESA)
- Income Support
- Housing Benefit
- income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA).
The best time to apply depends on your circumstances. For some claimants it may be better to claim as soon as possible, others may want to apply closer to the deadline.
You can get advice about the best time for you to make your new claim by contacting a local independent advice service A service gives people what they need, like healthcare services that help people when they are ill, and support services that give people support. through Advice Local.
If you have not done a Work Capability
Assessment
An assessment is a way of finding out what help a person needs. When you have an assessment, you might have to go to a meeting or fill in a form.
and declare your disability on the Universal Credit application, you will be required to do an
assessment
An assessment is a way of finding out what help a person needs. When you have an assessment, you might have to go to a meeting or fill in a form.
, which may mean you are awarded more money.
If you have done a Work Capability Assessment, those decisions about your ability to work should migrate with you. If you are in the ESA Work-Related Activity Group (WRAG), you should be awarded the Limited Capability for Work element when you move to UC. If you are in the Support Group for ESA, then you should be awarded the Limited Capability for Work-Related Activity element when you move to UC. These elements will apply as soon as your claim starts.
The Learning Disability Helpline
Our free helpline service offers advice and support for people with a learning disability A learning disability is to do with the way someone's brain works. It makes it harder for someone to learn, understand or do things. , and their families and carers.