Some benefits are changing to Universal Credit
The following benefits are ending and are being replaced by Universal Credit:
- Income Support
- Housing Benefit
- Income-related Employment Support Allowance (ESA)
- Income-based Job Seekers Allowance (JSA)
- Working Tax Credit
- Child Tax Credit.
These are called legacy benefits. If you get any of these benefits, you will get a letter called a ‘Migration Notice’ telling you that you must claim Universal Credit by the deadline date in your letter. If you don’t do this, your payments will stop.
If you cannot claim by your deadline date, contact the Universal Credit Migration Notice Helpline – contact details are below.
You may be able to get more time to make a claim if you have a good reason. You must request this before your deadline date.
Do you receive these benefits but haven’t had a Migration Notice?
Most legacy benefits will stop in April 2026. If you’re getting a legacy benefit, you should have received a migration notice by now.
Contact the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) if you think you should have been sent a migration notice. The DWP might eventually contact you, but it’s a good idea to speak to them as soon as you can. This is so you can move to Universal Credit without a gap in payments.
Universal Credit Migration Notice helpline
Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm.
Telephone: 0800 169 0328
Relay UK: 18001 then 0800 169 0328
If you can’t hear or speak on the phone, you can use Relay UK with an app or a textphone and type what you want to say. Find out how to use Relay UK on the Relay UK website. There’s no extra charge to use it.
Video Relay Service
If you use British Sign Language (BSL), you can access a live interpreter on the Video Relay Service. You can find out how to use video relay on YouTube.
Calls are free from mobiles and landlines.
Help to Claim
If you are confused or you’re not sure what to do, you may be eligible for free support from our Information, Advice and Guidance services dependant on where you live.
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 homeless
- 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 someone.
Contact us
If you would like further information or support, please visit our website, www.bid.org.uk, to see the other resources we have available and the services we deliver in your area. Alternatively, you can email us on info@bid.org.uk.
If you would like to receive the information in a different format, such as Braille, large print or Audio, then please contact us at marketing@bid.org.uk.