The Department for Work and Pensions (the DWP) has commenced the process of moving working age people who are in receipt of legacy benefits onto Universal Credit. The legacy benefits are:
- Income Support
- Income Based Job Seekers Allowance
- Income Related Employment and Support Allowance
- Housing Benefit
- Child and Working Tax Credits.
This process is called Managed Migration.
The process of Managed Migration will take place in stages until the DWP has moved all working age people in receipt of one or more of the above legacy benefits onto Universal Credit.
This process of Managed Migration commenced in our area on 1 August 2023 for single people of working age in receipt of tax credits only as their legacy benefit. This was followed on October 2023 for working age couples in receipt of tax credits as their only legacy benefit.
From April 2024, the DWP will begin to move other groups of legacy benefit claimants onto Universal Credit. The timetable for April-September 2024 is as follows:
April-June 2024 - Claimants in receipt of: Child Tax Credits, Income Support, Housing Benefit
July-September 2024 - Claimants in receipt of: Child Tax Credits, Income Related ESA, Housing Benefit
September 2024 - Claimants in receipt of: Child Tax Credits, Income Based Job Seekers Allowance, Housing Benefit
September 2024 - Claimants in receipt of Income Related Employment and Support Allowance and Income Related Employment and Support Allowance and Housing Benefit.
The DWP aim to move all claimants onto Universal Credit by December 2025.
If you are a claimant who fits into the above categories you do not have to do anything. The DWP will send you a letter which is called a Migration Notice. This Migration Notice will advise you what you need to do to claim Universal Credit and give you the deadline by which you need to do this - generally three months from receiving the Migration Notice. It will give you the date when your legacy benefits will come to an end.
DO NOT IGNORE THE MIGRATION NOTICE. If you are unsure about what to do or what it means for you, seek further advice as soon as possible.
There will be a telephone number on the Migration Notice of a dedicated DWP telephone support service. This telephone is 0800 169 0328 and is available Monday - Friday 8am to 6pm. Calls are free from mobiles and landlines.
You can also seek advice from:
Derbyshire County Council's Welfare Rights Service email - welfarebenefits@derbyshire.gov.uk or telephone on 01629 531535 Monday to Friday from 10am to midday and 2pm to 4pm.
Derbyshire Unemployed Workers Centre – 1 Rose Hill East Chesterfield S40 1NU - website www.duwc.org.uk - email info@duwc.org.uk - telephone 01246 231441 . The Derbyshire Unemployed Workers Centre may have an outreach centre near you. Please visit the website or contact the organisation for more details.
Citizens Advice - Unit 1, Bridge Street, Clay Cross, Chesterfield S45 9NG - website - www.citizensadvicened.org.uk - telephone 0800 144 8848.
The Financial Inclusion Officer at Rykneld Homes on 01246 217309.
If you have any queries regarding Universal Credit, Managed Migration and how it may affect you please contact one of the advice agencies above.
In addition further support and advice can be obtained from:
Universal Credit - GOV.UK website
