Universal Credit is a single monthly payment to help with your living costs. It also provides support if you're working but on a low income, looking for work or unable to work.
The following benefits and tax credits are ending and being replaced by Universal Credit, under a single monthly payment:
- Child Tax Credit
- Working Tax Credit
- Housing Benefit
- Income Support
- Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)
- Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
From April 2024, the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) is writing to some people who receive these benefits to let them know that they need to claim Universal Credit instead. This letter (called a Migration Notice and sent to you in the post), explains what you need to do and when. It also provides information on the help available to continue receiving support from the government.
Find out when you’re likely to be asked to move to Universal Credit on GOV.UK.
It is important that you do not do anything until you receive your letter. You will not be moved automatically.
Once you’ve received your Universal Credit Migration Notice letter, you’ll need to make a claim for Universal Credit to continue to get financial support. There will be a deadline in your letter. This is 3 months from the date the letter was sent out. If you do not claim by the deadline date, the benefits/tax credits listed above will stop.
Your current benefits will end as soon as you submit your claim for Universal Credit and you will not be able to go back to your existing benefit once you have claimed.
If you want some help with your Universal Credit application or you’re concerned about managing your income until you receive your first Universal Credit payment, there are different types of support available.
View an easy-read (PDF) version about moving to Universal Credit.
Visit GOV.UK for more information about Universal Credit where you can also find:
- Universal Credit explained
- When you need to apply for Universal Credit
- Steps you need to take
- What you’ll get
- Support and independent advice
The DWP have produced this short video.
When is this all happening?
Over the course of the 23/24 financial year, DWP wrote to those claiming Working Tax Credit and/or Child Tax Credit to ask them to claim Universal Credit. From April 2024, they have been writing to broader groups of legacy benefit customers asking them to claim Universal Credit.
As an indicative timeline, the Department plans to send Migration Notices firstly to:
- Income Support customers and those claiming tax credits with Housing Benefit from April
- Housing Benefit only customers from June
- Employment Support Allowance with Child Tax Credits from July
- Jobseekers Allowance in September
Households may be in receipt of a combination of benefits, for example an Income Support recipient could also be claiming Housing Benefit and/or Child Tax Credits.
Where can I get help?
If you have received a Migration Notice, you can call the Move to UC helpline on 0800 169 0328. This number is free to call. You can also call this number if you need more time to apply.
Visit GOV.UK for more information about Universal Credit.
Help to Claim, delivered independently by Citizens Advice, in partnership with Citizens Advice Scotland, provides practical tailored support to enable individuals to make a new claim to Universal Credit or move from legacy benefits.
Will I be worse off?
For those eligible households moving to Universal Credit through the managed migration process, transitional protection will be assessed and applied where appropriate. The aim of this additional payment is to maintain benefit entitlement at the point of transition so that households can adjust to the new benefit system. Transitional protection is not permanent. It can decrease if your Universal Credit entitlement increases, your Universal Credit claim ends or your circumstances change.
How will this affect me if I'm a landlord?
View Universal Credit and rented housing: guide for landlords on GOV.UK.
Does everyone have to move to Universal Credit?
Yes, however you cannot claim Universal Credit for your housing costs if you live in temporary accommodation, supported accommodation or if you're a pensioner. In those circumstances, you should claim Housing Benefit instead.
What if I'm a council tenant or rent from a Housing Association?
If your tenancy is managed by Enfield Council or a Housing Association and you start to receive Universal Credit, your housing costs will be included in your Universal Credit payment. You will need to pay all the rent you're charged out of this payment.
If you're a council tenant and experiencing difficulties in paying your rent, contact us and we will do our best to help you. Call us on 020 8379 1000 or email rent.council.housing@enfield.gov.uk. Make sure you include your name, address, payment reference and a contact telephone number.