Completing the move to Universal Credit
We’ve created this handy guide to help you understand what 'Universal Credit migration' is and how it might impact you. We want to provide you with as much support as possible with these changes.
Help with Universal Credit migration
We know that some of our customers may have heard about the changes to move individuals onto Universal Credit, we want to make you aware that these changes called ‘managed migrations’ will be taking place from June 2023. We want to provide you with as much support as possible with these changes. We’ve created this handy guide to help you understand the process and what you need to do.
Universal Credit - what is it?
Universal Credit (UC) is being brought in to replace the existing benefit system and make it simpler, to better support those receiving benefits in the UK.
The process of replacing the system is called Universal Credit migration. Due to the fact the existing benefit system was so complex, the migration has taken place in stages over the last decade.
Managed migration
A ‘managed migration’ is the term used to describe the process where anyone who still receives legacy benefits will change over (migrate to) Universal Credit, the expected completion date for this work is the end of 2024.
The Legacy benefits that will be replaced, with Universal Credit, include:
- Housing Benefit
- Child Tax Credit
- Working Tax Credit
- Income Support
- Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)
- Income-related Employment and Support Allowance. (ESA)
If you still receive one or more of these legacy benefits you will be invited to claim Universal Credit via a ‘migration notice’ letter. This letter will inform you that to continue receiving financial support you must claim Universal Credit by the deadline date given in the letter. This is three months from the date the letter was sent out.
If you have further questions about Universal Credit and the Managed Migration process please read our FAQ’s below.
FAQs
DWP has resumed the ‘managed migration’ stage of their plan to change customers’ on existing legacy benefits to Universal Credit, with a target date to complete this by the end of 2024. ‘Managed migration’ is the process by which DWP transfers people with live claims for existing legacy benefits to universal credit.
How will you know if you’ve been selected to migrate onto Universal Credit?
You will be invited to claim Universal Credit via a migration notice letter. Informing you that to continue receiving financial support you must claim Universal Credit by the deadline date given in the letter. This is three months from the date the letter was sent out. The Migration Notice signposts claimants to specific pages on GOV.UK where they can find more information or claim UC, and to a dedicated helpline where you can access support to make a claim.
What happens after you claim?
When a notified person makes a claim to Universal Credit before their deadline date, they will be asked to verify their identity, accept their claimant commitment, and undertake any relevant verification activity as with any other UC claim.
What is Transitional Protection?
Transitional protection ensures that most claimants are not worse off as a result of the managed migration from their previous benefits to Universal Credit. To benefit from transitional protection, a claimant has to claim Universal Credit by the date quoted in the migration notice (the deadline day).
Transitional protection applies where the total award that a household would receive in the first month of Universal Credit is less than the total award of benefits and tax credits that the household receive at the point of managed migration. Transitional protection is achieved by including an extra element of Universal Credit in the claim to the value of the difference (the transitional element).
What happens if I don’t make a claim within the deadline stated on the letter?
If you don’t make a claim by the deadline in the letter, then your legacy benefits will be terminated. You will therefore lose the right to transitional protection.
Further information on Universal Credit can be found here: Completing the move to Universal Credit - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
Further information on how to claim Universal Credit can be found here: - Universal Credit: How to claim - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
Other support available
If you need help purchasing food or fuel or are looking for money advice and support you can get help by calling us on 0330 355 1000 and a member of the team will give you a call back. Alternatively, use our contact form to get in touch.
