Move to Universal Credit if you receiveget a Migration Notice letter

ThisOnly read this guidance isif onlyyou forget peoplea whoMigration Notice letter

If you have not received a Migration Notice letter visit the Universal Credit guidance.

For everyone else visit the Universal Credit guidance.

Benefits that are ending

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

• ChildTax credits: Working Tax Credit
• Working 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.

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• havefrom athe healthdate conditionthe thatletter affectswas theirsent ability to work

People on tax credits and students

If you cannot claim beforeUniversal Credit by the deadline datedate, onyou yourshould Migrationcontact Notice, then some normal the Universal Credit eligibilityMigration rulesNotice dohelpline as notsoon applyas to you. These are:possible.

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  You youmay receivebe taxable credits,to youget canmore time to make a Universal Credit claim even if you have money,a savingsgood andreason. investmentsYou ofmust morerequest thanthis £16,000.before the Afterdeadline 12date months,on normalyour eligibilityletter.

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  Universal Credit ifis youfor stillpeople havewho:

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  • are inout full-time advanced education (such as university) for the duration of yourwork
  • have course.a Findhealth outcondition morethat aboutaffects Universaltheir Creditability andto students work

  This is part of transitional protection.

  HowEligibility torules claimfor Universal Creditclaiming

  YouAs canyour applybenefits forare Universalending Creditand online.

  Youyou need to createmove an account to makeUniversal aCredit claim.some You must complete your claim within 28 days of creatingthe yournormal accounteligibility orrules you’llfor haveclaiming to start again.

  When you or your partner make a claim to Universal Credit your existing benefits that are beingdifferent. replacedThis byis Universalknown Creditas will‘transitional stop.protection’. YouTo cannotget gotransitional backprotection to those benefits, because they are ending.

  If you cannotmust claim online,by call the Universaldeadline Creditdate Migrationon Noticeyour helpline.letter.

  HowIf to claim if you liveget withtax a partnercredits

  You’llIf both need to claim Universal Credit if you livereceive withtax yourcredits, partner in the same household and are:

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  Oncemore you’vethan created£16,000 youryou accountwill younot canbe makeable ato claim for Universal Credit.

  WhatIf you’llyou’re needa to applystudent

  ToYou applycan onlineclaim you’llUniversal need:

  • yourCredit bank,if buildingyou society or credit union account details
  • an email address
  • access to a phone

  To prove your identity,partner you’llare needin somefull-time documentsadvanced sucheducation (such as your:

  • drivinguniversity) licence
  • passport
  • debit or credit card
  • payslip or P60

  To complete your claim you’ll need to provide information about:

  • your housing, for examplethe howduration muchof rent you pay
  • your earnings,course. forFind 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 mightmore needabout an appointment with the Universal Credit teamand if:students.

  • 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.

  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.

  ApplyWhat foryou’ll Universal Credit onlineget

  Steps to making a claim

  1. SetOn up an Online Universal CreditCredit, account.

  2. Completemost andpeople submitwill onlinebe claim.

  3. Proveentitled 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 deadlinesame dateamount giventhey inreceived your letter. This is 3 months from thetheir dateprevious thebenefits, letteror was sent out.more. 

  If youyour cannotcircumstances claimchange Universalbefore Credit by the deadline date, you should contact the Universal Credit Migration Notice helpline as soon as possible.

  We can only give you more time to make ayour claimclaim, if you have a good reason. You must request this before themay deadlineaffect datethe onamount youryou letter.get.

  What you’ll 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.

  On

  ‘Transitional Universalprotection’ Credit,top mostup people will be entitled to the same amount they received from their previous benefits, or more.

  payments

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

  ‘Transitional protection’ payments

  Transitional protection payments are anentitled additional amount to helpon with your moveexisting tobenefits Universalis Credit.more Thethan paymentyou’ll willget makeon upUniversal theCredit, differencea iftop yourup Universalis Credit entitlement isavailable. lessThis thanis yourcalled previous‘transitional tax credits or benefits.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.

  Monthly assessment periods

  Universal Credit is calculated based on your circumstances each month. These are called your ‘assessment periods’.

  Benefits calculators

  Use a benefits calculator to estimatesee an estimation of how much you could get on Universal Credit.

  These are free to use and anonymous.

  TheBenefit calculators do not include:

  • anyshow toptransitional upprotection amount(top (transitionalup protection)payments) thator you may receive
  • any deductions for a debt

  debt, so may not be accurate.

  If theyou calculationreceive showstax thatcredits you’lland gethave lessmoney, thansavings yourand existinginvestments benefits,over you£16,000, mayuse receivethe entitledto aor topthe up, Better soOff you should not get less than you currently receive.calculator.

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

  Other financial help and support 

  ToIf seeyou howget muchUniversal Credit, you could getbe ifeligible youfor receiveother taxbenefits creditsor andfinancial havesupport. money,You savingsshould check andwhat investmentsyou overcan £16,000,get. 

  You usemight entitledtobe 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 earningsyour 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 getting Universal Credit

  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

  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

  You will not need to pay back the extra payments and they will not affect the Universal Credit you might get.

  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,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 [onlineonline account

  https://www.gov.uk/sign-in-universal-credit] or phone the [UniversalUniversal Credit helpline

  https://www.gov.uk/universal-credit/contact-universal-credit].

  .

  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 ananother Alternativepayment Paymentarrangement 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.

  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.

  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.