19 February 2024 , 15:03
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Millions of people on old-style benefits are being moved over to Universal Credit by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).
The process of moving everyone over to Universal Credit was restarted in May 2022, having been paused due to the Covid crisis. The DWP is transferring people in stages - so not everyone will be moved across to Universal Credit at the same time.
When it is your turn to switch to Universal Credit, you'll be sent a "migration notice" in the post. Once you have received this letter, you'll then have three months to start claiming Universal Credit - or your current benefits will stop without any replacement.
Universal Credit is replacing the following six benefits:
Working Tax Credit
8 money changes coming in February including Universal Credit and passport fees
Child Tax Credit
Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)
Income Support
Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
Housing Benefit
The DWP expects to have most people moved over to Universal Credit by March 2025 - although some people won't be switched across until 2028. The exact month some groups will receive "migration notices" from the DWP have been revealed in a written statement by Jo Churchill, the Minister of State for Employment.
The DWP is currently "on track" to notify over 500,000 Tax Credit only households of their switch to Universal Credit by the end of March 2024. If you claim Income Support and Tax Credits with Housing Benefit, the process of you being moved over to Universal Credit will begin from April. Those claiming just Housing Benefit should then start to hear from June, followed by anyone getting ESA and Child Tax Credits from July.
JSA claimants should start to be contacted by the DWP from September. Those who currently get Tax Credits and who are over the state pension age will be asked to apply for either Universal Credit or Pension Credit from August. If you claim income-related ESA and do not get Tax Credits, you will be moved over last and will not get transferred across to Universal Credit until 2028.
But not everyone will have more money on Universal Credit. The DWP claims 1.4million people (55%) will be better off on Universal Credit, and 900,000 (35%) would be worse off. The other 300,000 benefit claimants will see no change. You can use one of these following free benefit calculators to get a rough idea about whether you will be better off.
Policy in Practice calculator
Warning as millions on Universal Credit could miss out on hundreds of pounds
entitledto calculator
Turn2us calculator
If you think you will be better off, it may be possible for you to start claiming Universal Credit early. But always seek expert advice first before making the switch - once you make the move, you can’t go back to your old benefits. The calculators above are only designed to serve as a rough guide.
If you are moved over to Universal Credit through managed migration, and you'll be worse off, you will get monthly transition payments to cover any financial shortfall. The transitional protection lasts until there is no difference between the amount awarded under Universal Credit and what you received before under legacy benefits.