When will i go onto Universal Credit

Migration to Universal Credit

Universal Credit will replace a range of working-age benefits (legacy benefits) into one single benefit and payment. These legacy benefits are:

Income Based Jobseeker’s Allowance
Housing Benefit
Working Tax Credit
Child Tax Credit
Income Based Employment Support Allowance
Income Support

The government’s current plan is that existing legacy benefit claimants will be moved over to Universal Credit by 2029.

You can stay on the legacy benefit for now - unless:

you get a letter from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) telling you to claim Universal Credit by a certain date
your situation changes in certain ways - for example, you might need to claim Universal Credit if you’ve separated from a partner or moved to a different council area

It is possible for those on the legacy benefits to choose to move to UC. If you decide to switch from a legacy benefit to Universal Credit we suggest you seek advice before doing so. It is not just the amount of money you may be entitled to that could change.

Some of the overall rules may be different, including; the initial waiting days you will not be paid for; the frequency of your payments (eg, weekly, fortnightly, monthly); or the commitments you need to agree to in order to remain eligible. Plus, there is usually no going back to your previous benefits once a claim for Universal Credit has been made, so get advice if you're considering doing this.

If you are migrated over to Universal Credit by the DWP under the ’ managed migration’ process and you would get less money than your current benefits, you could receive a top-up payment so that you do not lose out. This is called 'transitional protection'. If you choose to transfer, or you have a change of circumstance that results in a ‘natural migration’ to Universal Credit, you will lose the right to the transitional protection.

Further information on some of the changes of circumstances that could affect you and the impact under the current benefits available are as follows:

A change in employment status

A change in employment status
Change in circumstances	What happened before Universal Credit Full Service?	What happens in Universal Credit Full Service areas?
If not already claiming Child Tax Credits but on Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance, Income Support or Income-related Employment Support Allowance and start work with enough hours to satisfy Working Tax Credit conditions	Claim Working Tax Credit	Claim Universal Credit
If not already claiming Child Tax Credits but on legacy benefit such as Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance and Housing Benefit and start work but not enough hours to satisfy Working Tax Credit	'Legacy benefits' adjusted	Choice - remain on adjusted 'legacy benefit' or claim Universal Credit if you will be better off
If already claiming Child Tax Credits, on income based legacy benefits and start work with enough hours to satisfy Working Tax Credit conditions	Remain on existing benefits and add Working Tax Credit	Choice - remain on adjusted existing benefits or claim Universal Credit if you will be better off
On Working Tax Credit and hours fall below 16	Claim Income Support, Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance or Income-related Employment and Support Allowance	Claim Universal Credit
On Income-related Employment and Support Allowance and hours increase over 16	Potential Working Tax Credit claim	Claim Universal Credit
On Child Tax Credit and start work to satisfy Working Tax Credit rules	Add Working Tax Credit	Remain on Child Tax Credit and claim Working Tax Credit
On Working Tax Credit and increase hours	Stay on Working Tax Credit	Choice - remain on adjusted 'legacy benefit' or claim Universal Credit if you will be better off
On Working Tax Credit and become sick	Claim Income-related Employment and Support Allowance	Claim Universal Credit

A change in family circumstances

A change in family circumstances
Change in circumstances	What happened before Universal Credit Full Service?	What happens in Universal Credit Full Service areas?
On Income Support, Income-related Employment and Support Allowance, Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance or Housing Benefit and household becomes responsible for a first child	Claim Child Tax Credit	Claim Universal Credit
On Working Tax Credit only and household becomes responsible for a first child	Remain on Tax Credit and claim Child Tax Credit	Choice - remain on adjusted 'legacy benefit' or claim Universal Credit if you will be better off
Lone parent on Income Support and youngest child turns 5 years old	Unless there is another reason to stay on Income Support, claim Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance	Unless there is another reason to stay on Income Support, claim Universal Credit
On Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance and baby due within 11 weeks	Claim Income Support	Claim Universal Credit
On Child Tax Credit (with or without WTC) and have another child or go from 2 to 1	Remain on Tax Credit and continue to claim Child Tax Credit	Choice - remain on adjusted 'legacy benefits' or claim Universal Credit if you will be better off (note: you can't currently claim UC if you have 3 or more children).

Partner leaving or joining the household

Partner leaving or joining the household
Change in circumstances	What happened before Universal Credit Full Service?	What happens in Universal Credit Full Service areas?
Couple on Tax Credits separate	Make separate claim for 'legacy benefits'	Both claim Universal Credit as single people
Lone parent on Income Support and Child Tax Credit forms a couple with a partner working less than 24 hours a week	Claim Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance or Income-related Employment and Support Allowance and make new Tax Credit claim as a couple	Claim Universal Credit as a couple
Lone parent on Income Support and Child Tax Credit forms a couple with a partner working 24 or more hours a week	Make a new Tax Credit claim as a couple	Claim Universal Credit as a couple
Couple on Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance with child under 5 become lone parents	Claim Income Support or Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance	Both claim Universal Credit as single people
Single person under pension age on 'legacy benefits' becomes a couple with person of Pension Credit qualifying age	Claim Pension Credit until Universal Credit is fully rolled out across the country	Claim Universal Credit when fully rolled out

Starting or stopping being a carer

Starting or stopping being a carer
Change in circumstances	What happened before Universal Credit Full Service?	What happens in Universal Credit Full Service areas?
Satisfies Carer's Allowance rules which means a new 'legacy benefit' claim	Claim the relevant 'legacy benefits'	Claim Universal Credit
Carer on Income Support stops being a carer	Unless there is a reason to stay on Income Support, claim Jobseeker's Allowance	Claim Universal Credit

Starting or stopping a claim based on disability

Starting or stopping a claim based on disability
Change in circumstances	What happened before Universal Credit Full Service?	What happens in Universal Credit Full Service areas?
On Income-related Employment Support Allowance and fails Work Capability Assessment	Claim Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance	Claim Universal Credit. If you challenge Work Capability Assessment and win, remain on Universal Credit
On Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance and become sick	Claim Income-related Employment and Support Allowance	Claim Universal Credit

Renewing or making small changes to tax credits

Renewing or making small changes to tax credits
Change in circumstances	What happened before Universal Credit Full Service?	What happens in Universal Credit Full Service areas?
Tax Credit renewal	Remain on Tax Credit	Choice - remain on adjusted 'legacy benefit' or claim Universal Credit if you will be better off
On Tax Credit and change does not lead to a claim for a new 'legacy benefit' for example less income	Remain on Tax Credit	Choice - remain on adjusted 'legacy benefit' or claim Universal Credit if you will be better off

Moving home and taking up a new tenancy

Moving home and taking up a new tenancy
Change in circumstances	What happened before Universal Credit Full Service?	What happens in Universal Credit Full Service areas?
Housing Benefit claimant moves into a new local authority	New claim for Housing Benefit	Claim Universal Credit
Housing Benefit claimant moves within the same local authority	Remain on Housing Benefit	Choice - remain on adjusted 'legacy benefit' or claim Universal Credit if you will be better of
On Tax Credit, Income Support, Income-related Employment and Support Allowance, Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance and take up a new tenancy for the first time	Claim Housing Benefit	Claim Universal Credit

Other changes

Other changes
Change in circumstances	What happened before Universal Credit Full Service?	What happens in Universal Credit Full Service areas?
On Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance and attends court or jury service	Claim Income Support	Claim Universal Credit
On Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance and remanded in custody	Claim Income Support	Claim Universal Credit
On Income Support and cease full time education	Claim Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance	Claim Universal Credit
On Contribution-based Jobseeker's Allowance or Employment and Support Allowance and believed to be entitled to Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance or Income-related Employment and Support Allowance	Claim Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance or Income-related Employment and Support Allowance	Claim Universal Credit (treated as a new claim)