How to protect your income when DWP writes to say you must move to Universal Credit

If DWP writes to tell you to move to Universal Credit (UC), act before the date on the letter. Do that and you can protect every penny of your current income.

What is a migration notice?

A migration notice is an official letter from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). It tells you your current benefit will end. This could be:

• income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
• Income Support
• Housing Benefit (if you are working age and not already on UC)

The letter gives you a deadline — usually 3 months from the date it was sent. You need to make your UC claim before that date.

What is the transitional element?

If the amount UC would pay you is lower than your current benefit, DWP adds extra money called the transitional element to make up the difference.

Your total UC payment should be the same as — or higher than — what you get now, at least at the point you first move.

The transitional element does not last forever. Each time another part of your UC goes up — for example, when the standard allowance increases — your transitional element goes down by the same amount. It erodes over time until it reaches zero.

What if you miss your deadline?

You get one extra month after the original deadline. DWP calls this the final deadline.

If you claim UC before the final deadline passes, you can still get the transitional element.

If you claim after the final deadline, you can still get UC — but you will not get the transitional element. Normal UC amounts will apply from the start of your new claim.

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Can you ask for more time?

Yes. If you know you cannot claim by the deadline on your letter, contact DWP and ask for an extension. You must do this before the original deadline date passes.

Call DWP on the number shown on your migration notice letter, or ask Citizens Advice to help you make the request.

What to do next

1. Find the deadline date on your migration notice letter.
2. Start your UC claim at gov.uk before that date.
3. If you are worried about the move, contact Citizens Advice first — they can check what your transitional element should be and make sure the calculation is right.
4. If you need more time, contact DWP to request an extension before your deadline passes.

Do not put your migration notice in a drawer and leave it. If you miss the final deadline without claiming, your legacy benefit will end and you will have to claim UC anyway — but without any transitional protection.