Overview
Look out for a letter called a Universal Credit Migration Notice from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) explaining what you’ll need to do and when. You can find out when you’re likely to be asked to move to Universal Credit.
What to do when you receive the letter
When you receive your Migration Notice letter, it’s important you check the date that you will need to claim by as you won’t be moved automatically. Do not worry, your letter will give you instructions to follow
Someone helping with your claim
To find out how a representative or appointee acting on your behalf can help you, visit Get help with your Universal Credit claim.
If you have an appointee who is responsible for making and maintaining your benefit claims, your Migration Notice letter will be sent directly to them. They will need to make the Universal Credit claim for you.
‘Transitional protection’ top up payments
If the amount you’re entitled to on your existing or previous benefits is more than you’ll get on Universal Credit, a top up is available.
You do not need to apply for transitional protection. It will be paid to you automatically if you get a Migration Notice letter and make a Universal Credit claim by your deadline date
If your Universal Credit entitlement increases
If you have an increase in your Universal Credit entitlement, perhaps due to the birth of a child, or because of an annual increase in the rates for Universal Credit, the increase in your Universal Credit entitlement will be offset by a reduction in your transitional protection amount. This will continue until your transitional protection amount is reduced to nothing.
Increases in your childcare element won’t affect your transitional protection.
Increases in any other element or becoming newly entitled to any other element will affect your transitional protection.
If you have a decrease in your Universal Credit entitlement, for example because of an increase in your earnings, your transitional protection amount will not be reduced straight away.
Significant change of circumstance
If you have a significant change of circumstance which affects your Universal Credit claim, you will lose your transitional protection amount immediately.
These significant changes are:
- You are claiming Universal Credit as a couple, but then split up or your partner dies
- You are claiming as a single person but then move in with a partner or a partner moves in with you
- Your earnings go below a certain threshold for three months in a row (£991 a month for a single claimant and £1,597 a month for joint claimants), and at the time you claimed Universal Credit your earnings were above this level.
- Your Universal Credit award ends (other than because of your earnings increasing). Examples of this might be if you moved abroad or if you got capital of more than £16,000.
If you currently receive ESA
If you’ve been receiving ESA, you will not need to provide medical evidence such as fit notes, or have a Work Capability Assessment (WCA) if all the following apply:
- you move from ESA to Universal Credit without a break
- you’ve already completed a WCA
- you were in the ‘support group’ or ‘work-related activity’ group in ESA when you made your claim to Universal Credit
You may be receiving both Income-Related ESA and Contribution-Based ESA. When you move to UC, your Income-Related ESA will stop, but your Contribution-Based ESA will continue as “New Style ESA”.
The amount you receive for New Style ESA will be paid separately, and your Universal Credit payment will be reduced by the same amount. This ensures you are not paid twice for the same need.
You may need to have another assessment if your WCA is due for a review or your condition changes.
If you were providing medical evidence on ESA before you moved, you will still need to provide medical evidence on Universal Credit until you get a WCA decision.
Find out more about health conditions, disability and Universal Credit.
How to get help with your application
If you need assistance to make your new claim call 0800 169 0328. Lines are open from Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm
Further information about helping to prepare for the move
Check how much you are likely to receive after you change to Universal Credit
Find out how much you’re likely to get on Universal Credit, with an estimate from an online benefits calculator.
Your current benefits will end as soon as you submit your claim for Universal Credit. You will not be able to go back to your existing government benefit once you have claimed.
Last Updated on May 1, 2026 by Ashford Advice