When you need to apply for Universal Credit
You’ll receive a letter in the post from the Department for Work and Pensions. This is called a Universal Credit Migration Notice and it tells you when you need to move to Universal Credit.
It is important that you do not do anything until you receive your letter.
You will not be moved automatically and you must claim Universal Credit by the deadline date given in your letter. Look out for your letter as ignoring it could even stop your payments. If you have a question about claiming Universal Credit or have a problem getting online, call the number shown in your Universal Credit Migration Notice letter.
The Department for Work and Pensions is currently sending out letters to benefit customers, so if you are claiming the following benefits, look out for your Migration Notice letter in the post:
- Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
- Housing Benefit
- Income Support
- Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)
Many people will be eligible for at least the same amount on Universal Credit as their previous benefit.
If your Universal Credit entitlement is less than your previous benefits then you may be eligible for financial protection when you move to Universal Credit. This additional amount is known as ‘transitional protection’. To help show how transitional protection works, here is an example:
Example
Sarah is entitled to £700 on her existing benefits.
Her Universal Credit entitlement is £600.
This mean’s Sarah’s transitional protection will be £100.
Her total Universal Credit entitlement is now £700.
To be eligible for ‘transitional protection’:
- you should apply for Universal Credit once you have received your Universal Credit Migration Notice letter
- you must apply before the deadline date in your Universal Credit Migration Notice letter
- there must be no changes in your circumstances
Find out more about how your payments are protected.
The video below will explain how Transitional Protection works.
Eligibility
If you claim within the deadline date on your letter, then some normal Universal Credit eligibility rules do not apply to you.
You can claim Universal Credit if you or your partner are in full-time advanced education (such as university) for the duration of your course. Find out more about Universal Credit and students.
Find out more about eligibility for Universal Credit.
Some people will not move to Universal Credit
You will not move to Universal Credit if you only receive Housing Benefit and you, or you and your partner:
- are of State Pension age (66 years old or over)
- live in temporary accommodation provided by a council because you were homeles
- live in supported accommodation including refuges, hostels, extra care housing and some sheltered housing
Instead, you will continue to receive support with housing costs through Housing Benefit.
If you only receive new style benefits, either New Style Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) or New Style Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA), then you will not be asked to move to Universal Credit.
If you’re not sure which benefits you’re on, you can speak to an independent adviser.
Winter Fuel Payment
The Winter Fuel Payment is a tax-free lump sum payment for eligible older people to support with costs to heat their home in winter.
The Winter Fuel Payment is now means tested. You may be eligible if:
- you were born before 23 September 1958
- you live in England, Wales or Northern Ireland
- you were getting Universal Credit during the qualifying week of 16 to 22 September 2024
Most people will get the Winter Fuel Payment automatically if they are eligible.
Find out more about Winter Fuel Payment on gov.uk.
If you live in Scotland, you may be eligible for the Scottish Government’s Pension Age Winter Heating Payment which has replaced Winter Fuel Payments. For more details please visit My Scot Gov for more information.