What changes in circumstances might trigger a move to Universal Credit
The government’s current plan is that existing benefit claimants will be moved over to Universal Credit (UC) in a process called 'managed migration'.
July 2019 saw the start of a small number of people in Harrogate being moved but the main 'managed migration' began from the summer of 2022 onwards. The government hopes to finish moving all existing benefit and tax credit claimants, with the exception of those claiming income-related Employment and Support Allowance (irESA), onto Universal Credit by the end of 2024.
However, anyone who has a change of circumstance requiring a new benefit claim will be moved earlier via 'natural migration'. This group of people will also lose their right to transitional protection which is only available for managed migrants to UC.
In general, natural migration could be triggered if entitlement to your current benefit ends (prompting a need to claim a new one) or you become entitled to a different or extra benefit. It shouldn't happen when you make changes to benefits you are already claiming.
The following gives examples of what may happen in a range of circumstances.
First, a word of warning
If the table below says you have a choice whether to remain on your existing benefits or claim UC and you decide to switch we suggest you seek advice before doing so. It is not just the amount of money you may be entitled to that could change.
Some of the overall rules may be different, including; the initial waiting days you will not be paid for; the frequency of your payments (eg, weekly, fortnightly, monthly); or the commitments you need to agree to in order to remain eligible. See our Universal Credit guide for more details on each of these areas.
Plus, there is no going back once a claim for Universal Credit has been made. In very rare cases where you have been given incorrect advice from HMRC or DWP please get specialist advice if you're considering doing this.
A change in employment status
| If you... | You should... |
| don't already claim Child Tax Credits but do claim Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance, Income Support or Income-related Employment Support Allowance and you start work with enough hours to satisfy Working Tax Credit conditions | be asked to claim Universal Credit |
| don't already claim Child Tax Credits but do claim legacy benefits such as Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance and Housing Benefit and you start work but not enough hours to satisfy Working Tax Credit | have a choice - either remain on adjusted exisitng benefit or claim Universal Credit if you will be better off |
| already claim Child Tax Credits and income based legacy benefits and you start work with enough hours to satisfy Working Tax Credit conditions | have a choice - either remain on existing benefits with added Working Tax Credit or claim Universal Credit if you will be better off |
| are on Working Tax Credit and your hours fall below 16 | be asked to claim Universal Credit |
| are on Income-related Employment and Support Allowance and your hours increase over 16 | be asked to claim Universal Credit |
| already claim Child Tax Credit and start work to satisfy Working Tax Credit rules | stay on Child Tax Credit and add Working Tax Credit |
| already claim Working Tax Credit and you increase your hours | have a choice - remain on adjusted Working Tax Credit or claim Universal Credit if you will be better off |
| already claim Working Tax Credit and you become sick |
stay on Working Tax Credit for the first 28 weeks that you're off work sick, see our Working Tax Credit and people who have recently stopped working help page for details. If you don't go back to work after 28 weeks, you must tell the Tax Credit Office within one month. If you don't have a partner on your claim meeting the work hours rules (see Working Tax Credit) you should be asked to claim Universal Credit. |
A change in family circumstances
| If you... | You should... |
| already claim Income Support, Income-related Employment and Support Allowance, Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance or Housing Benefit and your household becomes responsible for a first child | be asked to claim Universal Credit |
| already claim Working Tax Credit only and your household becomes responsible for a first child | have a choice - either remain on existing benefits with added Child Tax Credit or claim Universal Credit if you will be better off |
| are a lone parent on Income Support and your youngest child turns 5 years old | be asked to claim Universal Credit, unless there is another reason to stay on Income Support |
| already claim Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance and your baby is due within 11 weeks | be asked to claim Universal Credit |
| already claim Child Tax Credit (with or without WTC) and you have another child or go from 2 to 1 | have a choice - remain on adjusted tax credits or claim Universal Credit if you will be better off |
A partner leaving or joining the household
| If you... | You should... |
| are a couple on Tax Credits and you separate | both be asked to claim Universal Credit as single people |
| are a lone parent on Income Support and Child Tax Credit and you form a couple with a partner working less than 24 hours a week | be asked to claim Universal Credit as a couple |
| are a lone parent on Income Support and Child Tax Credit and you form a couple with a partner working more than 24 hours a week | be asked to claim Universal Credit as a couple |
| are a couple on Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance with children under 5 and become lone parents | both be asked to claim Universal Credit as single people |
| are single a person under pension age on 'legacy benefits' and you become a couple with person of Pension Credit qualifying age | be asked to claim Pension Credit until Universal Credit is fully rolled out across the country |
Starting or stopping being a carer
| If you... | You should... |
| satisfy Carer's Allowance rules, are not claiming a legacy benefit already, and are making a new benefit claim |
be asked to claim Universal Credit. Note: A claim for Carer's Allowance will not trigger a claim for UC, but UC will be the appropriate benefit to claim alongside CA. |
| satisfy Carer's Allowance rules and are already claiming a legacy benefit |
have a choice - either remain on existing benefits with added carer premium (not included in tax credits) or claim Universal Credit if you will be better off. Note: A claim for Carer's Allowance will not trigger a claim for UC. |
| are a carer on Income Support who stops being a carer | be asked to claim Universal Credit - unless you remain eligible for Income Support for a different reason, such as being a lone parent with a child under 5. |
Starting or stopping a claim based on disability
| If you... | You should... |
| already claim Income-related Employment Support Allowance but you fail a Work Capability Assessment |
have a choice - either appeal the WCA decision and remain on irESA at the assessment rate while awaiting the outcome of the appeal, or claim Universal Credit (note: even if your appeal is successful you will remain on Universal Credit if you have already made the UC claim) |
| already claim Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance and you become sick | be asked to claim Universal Credit |
Changes to tax credits
| If you... | You should... |
| are renewing your existing Tax Credit claim | have a choice - remain on adjusted Tax Credit or claim Universal Credit if you will be better off |
| claim Tax Credit but your change of circumstances wouldn't have led to a claim for a new 'legacy benefit' (for example you have less income) | have a choice - remain on adjusted Tax Credit or claim Universal Credit if you will be better off |
Moving home and taking up a new tenancy
| If you... | You should... |
| already claim Housing Benefit and you move into a new local authority | be asked to claim Universal Credit |
| already claim Housing Benefit and you move within the same local authority | have a choice - remain on adjusted Housing Benefit or claim Universal Credit if you will be better off |
| are on Tax Credit, Income Support, Income-related Employment and Support Allowance, Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance and take up a new tenancy for the first time | be asked to claim Universal Credit |
Other changes
| If you... | You should... |
| claim Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance and you need to attend court or jury service | be asked to claim Universal Credit |
| claim Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance and you are remanded in custody | be asked to claim Universal Credit |
| claim Income Support and you cease full time education | be asked to claim Universal Credit |
| are on Contribution-based Jobseeker's Allowance or Employment and Support Allowance and are entitled to Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance or Income-related Employment and Support Allowance | be asked to claim Universal Credit |
With thanks to Newcastle City Council Active Inclusion Service for the information in this guide. It is as accurate as possible but subject to change.
