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People getting legacy benefits are having the claims closed and are being invited to make a new claim for Universal Credit as part of the Government’s managed migration process. This includes, for example, Zetetick tenants in receipt of Income Related ESA (Employment Support Allowance).
The legacy benefits affected are: Child Tax Credit, Working Tax Credit, Housing Benefit for working-age people, income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA), income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA) and Income Support.
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) have been sending ‘Migration Notices’ to people getting the legacy benefits listed above as part of a process that has been going for some time, which was paused during the Covid-19 pandemic, and is now set to complete in just over a year.
All Migration Notices will have been sent by the end of December 2025 and legacy benefits will end on 31 March 2026.
The ‘Universal Credit Migration Notice’ from The DWP outlines that the existing benefitsare stopping, and invites recipients to make the claim for Universal Credit (UC) as a replacement. The letter has details for when the recipient needs to re-apply by. The recipient is given three months to apply when they get the letter – and the date is clearly outlined on the letter as a reminder.
It is very important to note that moving to the new benefit scheme is not automatic, so the person receiving a letter – or their appointee – must read it careful and complete the steps it requests in order to ensure they do not lose out.
It is also important the person receiving the migrating legacy benefits does not apply for Universal Credit (UC) until they get notice to do so as it could mean they get less money if they do. Also, there will not be any ‘transitional protection’ if a person applies early.
The transitional protection is a temporary top-up payment available for some people moving from the older legacy benefits system to Universal Credit or Pension Credit. It is only added for people who have been ‘managed migrated’ and where they would be entitled to less under Universal Credit or Pension Credit than from their current legacy benefits.
The amount a person gets from their current benefits (the ‘legacy’ benefits being replaced by Universal Credit or Pension Credit), will be compared with the amount they would get in Universal Credit or Pension Credit if it were calculated based on the same details and using the same income as their current benefits, which the Government call the ‘Indicative amount’.
If a claimant has any unclaimed ‘legacy’ benefits or their Tax Credits are based on their previous year’s income – which they often are – then the indicative amount will be different to the amount usually expected in the first Universal Credit or Pension Credit award.
If the indicative amount is lower than the total current legacy benefits amount, the person will receive the transitional protection element to make up the difference.
In most cases, the Government has stated that the UC will be the same as the benefits it replaces. In some cases though it could be lower (and in a few cases, higher).
To check and complete calculation specific to yourself and get a full picture overall of what you might be entitled to in terms of all benefits, the Government has put links on its website pages in order to check without affecting actual and existing claims…
For Zetetick tenants and appointees reading this, it is important that when asked about housing details, the option for Living in Supported Housing/Accommodation is ticked. Our tenant’s Housing Benefit claim is with the local authorities and should not be claimed as a Housing Element through Universal Credit.
If you do receive a migration notice letter, the first thing to do is not worry, as everyone on the old benefits scheme will be getting one.
If you are having difficulties when applying, please do call ZHC to be guided through the process or speak with the Universal Credit Migration helpline on 0800 169 0328. (Monday – Friday, 8am – 6pm)
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