Tax credits and some benefits are ending: move to Universal Credit

This guidance is only for people who have received a Migration Notice

If you want to keep receiving financial support, you must claim Universal Credit.

For everyone else visit the Universal Credit guidance.

Benefits that are ending

The following benefits are ending and are being replaced by Universal Credit:

• Child Tax Credit
• Housing Benefit
• Income Support
• Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)
• Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
• Working Tax Credit

Other benefits, such as Personal Independence Payment (PIP), will stay the same.

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

Students and people on tax credits

If you receive a Migration Notice letter from DWP, then some normal Universal Credit eligibility rules do not apply to you. These are:

• tax credits – if you receive tax credits you can make a claim even if you have savings or capital of more than £16,000. After 12 months normal eligibility rules will apply
  
  
• students – if you receive financial support from your current benefits, you can claim Universal Credit if you or your partner are in full-time advanced education (such as attending university)university). Find out more about Universal Credit and students

Work Capability Assessments

You will not need another Work Capability Assessment (WCA) again when you move to Universal Credit if all of the following apply:

• you’ve been receiving Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
• you’ve already completed a WCA
• you’ve been assessed whilst claiming ESA

If your WCA is due for a review, you’ll need to have another assessment. Your review date for WCA will remain the same after you claim Universal Credit.

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 some of your existing benefits will stop. You cannot go back to those benefits, because they are ending.

If you cannot claim online, you can claim by phone through 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

You’ll also have to prove your identity. You’ll need some identity documents for this, for example 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.

You can also get support from the Citizens Advice Help to Claim service.

Apply for Universal Credit online

Steps to making a claim

1. Set up an Online Universal Credit account.

2. Complete and submit online claim.

3. Prove your identity.

4. Provide documents and evidence to support your claim.

Start now

When you need to act

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 given on your letter, you should contact the Universal Credit Migration Notice helpline as soon as possible.

We can only give you more time to make a claim if you have a good reason. You must request this before the deadline on your letter.

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 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 top up if you have received a Migration Notice letter from DWP and claim by the deadline date on your letter.

If your circumstances change before you make your claim, this may affect the amount you get.

You should claim as soon as possible to make sure the amount you are currently entitled to can be protected.

Any transitional protection you receive as part of your Universal Credit claim may stop if you have a change in circumstances once you’ve made your claim.

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

Benefit calculators

Use a benefits calculator to estimate how much you could get on Universal Credit.

These are free to use and anonymous.

The calculators are not suitable for people receiving tax credits who have savings or capital over £16,000.

See how much you could get by using a benefits calculator.

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

Normally the most that can be taken from your payment is 25% of your Universal Credit Standard Allowance. This is the basic amount you are entitled to. 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.

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 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 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)

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.

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.

Other benefits

The last payment dates are different if you receive the following benefits:

• Housing Benefit
• Income Support
• Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)
• Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)

Your entitlement to these benefits will continue for 2 weeks after you have made a claim to Universal Credit. This means you may receive payments from your existing benefits for another 2 weeks after you’ve made your claim. If any further payments are due, they will be made shortly after your entitlement ends.

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 your payment date is on a weekend, 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.

Call the Universal Credit Migration Notice helpline straight away if your payment does not arrive on time.

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
• reporting changes in circumstances

Change in circumstance can include:

• finding or finishing a job
• having a child
• moving in with your partner
• starting to care for a child or disabled person
• changing your mobile number or email address
• moving to a new address
• changing your bank details
• your rent going up or down
• changes to your health condition
• becoming too ill to work or meet your work coach
• changes to your earnings (only if you’re self-employed)
• changes to your savings, investments and how much money you have
• changes to your immigration status, if you’re not a British citizen

Other 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.

If you receive Universal Credit, you may also be able to get other financial support depending on your circumstances.

Contact us

Universal Credit Migration Notice helpline

Telephone: 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 telephone numbers are free to call from mobiles and landlines.