Transitional protection if you receive a Migration Notice letter
Financial help and support when you first move to Universal Credit from your current benefits or tax credits.
Applies to England, Scotland and Wales
This guidance is only for people who received a Migration Notice letter
Find out about Universal Credit if you receive a Migration Notice letter.
For everyone else visit the Universal Credit guidance.
What transitional protection is
Transitional protection helps with your move to Universal Credit.
If eligible, this protection means you:
- can get a transitional protection payment added to your Universal Credit entitlement if you receive more from your previous tax credits or benefits. This is known as the 바카라 사이트榯ransitional element바카라 사이트�
- could claim Universal Credit and have money, savings and investments over 拢16,000 for 12 assessment periods if you moved from tax credits. This is known as the 바카라 사이트榯ransitional capital disregard바카라 사이트�
- can claim Universal Credit if you or your partner are a full-time student in higher education until the course is finished. This is known as the 바카라 사이트榯ransitional student disregard바카라 사이트�
Find out about moving to Universal Credit.
Eligibility
You do not need to apply for transitional protection.
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) will send you a letter called a Migration Notice, asking you to claim Universal Credit.听聽
To be eligible for transitional protection, you must claim Universal Credit by your deadline date.
If you cannot claim Universal Credit by the deadline date on your Migration Notice letter, you should contact the聽Universal Credit Migration Notice Helpline聽as soon as possible.
We can only give you more time to make a claim if you have a good reason. You must request this before聽your deadline date.
Find out how to apply for Universal Credit.
Changes to your circumstances before you claim
If you have a바카라 사이트痵ignificant바카라 사이트痗hange of circumstances before you claim Universal Credit, you may not be entitled to바카라 사이트痵ome elements of바카라 사이트痶ransitional protection.바카라 사이트�
Changes to your relationship status before you claim will mean you are not entitled to the transitional element. If a partner moves into your household and they did not receive a Migration Notice, you will not be entitled to any element of transitional protection.听聽聽
Changes to your tax credits or benefits entitlement before you claim may mean you will not be entitled to any element of transitional protection.
Transitional protection payments
Transitional protection payments are an additional amount to help with your move to Universal Credit. They바카라 사이트檙e also known as the 바카라 사이트�transitional element바카라 사이트�.
The payment, known as the transitional element, will make up the difference if your Universal Credit entitlement is less than your previous tax credits or benefits.
Example
Jane is entitled to 拢800 on her existing benefits.
Her Universal Credit entitlement is 拢600.
This means Jane바카라 사이트檚 transitional protection amount will be 拢200.
Her total Universal Credit entitlement is now 拢800.
Find out more about바카라 사이트�how the transitional element is calculated when you move to Universal Credit.
How long your transitional protection payments last聽
Transitional protection payments are not permanent. They can decrease or end if your Universal Credit entitlement increases.听
If you바카라 사이트檙e eligible, your transitional protection payments will continue until:
- your Universal Credit entitlement is the same or more than your previous tax credits or benefits
- you have a significant change of circumstances
Changes that can decrease your transitional protection payments聽
Your transitional protection payments can decrease following a change in your circumstances. Changes can include:
- having a child
- starting to care for a child or disabled person
- an increase in housing costs (rent)
- a worsening health condition
- changes to government benefit rates
This is because these changes are likely to increase your Universal Credit amount.
Example
Jane바카라 사이트檚 current Universal Credit payment is 拢800, which includes a transitional protection amount of 拢200.听
Jane has a second child added to her claim. This increases her Universal Credit amount by 拢50.听
This means Jane바카라 사이트檚 transitional protection amount will decrease by 拢50.
However, her total Universal Credit payment is still 拢800.
How your Universal Credit entitlement affects your transitional protection payments
If your Universal Credit entitlement increases, your transitional protection payment will decrease by the same amount. Childcare costs are the only exception.
Further increases to your Universal Credit amount can eventually end your transitional protection payments. This will only happen if your entitlement is the same or more on Universal Credit.
Changes to your circumstances after your claim聽
If you have a significant change바카라 사이트痮f바카라 사이트痗ircumstances바카라 사이트痑fter transitional protection has been awarded to your Universal Credit claim,바카라 사이트痽our transitional protection바카라 사이트痬ay end.
The following are significant changes of circumstances:바카라 사이트�
- changes to your relationship status, such as a partner moving into or out of your household바카라 사이트�
- changes that end your Universal Credit claim바카라 사이트�
Find out about바카라 사이트�your responsibilities and reporting a change in your circumstances.
If your Universal Credit decreases to zero due to your earnings increasing
If your earnings mean your Universal Credit is reduced to zero for 4 assessment periods in a row, your transitional protection will end. If your earnings then decrease, you may be eligible to apply for Universal Credit again, but will not receive transitional protection.听聽
If your earnings drop below an agreed amount for 3 months in a row
If your earnings are equal to or above your 바카라 사이트榓dministrative earnings threshold (AET)바카라 사이트� in your first assessment period, and they drop below your AET for more than 3 assessment periods in a row, your transitional protection will end.听
If you were eligible for the transitional capital disregard and your savings reduce to 拢16,000 or less
If your money, savings and investments reduce to 拢16,000 or less, your transitional capital disregard ends. Your claim will remain open, as you can claim Universal Credit with 拢16,000 or less under normal Universal Credit rules.听
If your money, savings and investments go above 拢16,000 again you may no longer be eligible for Universal Credit.
Transitional protection payment reviews
If you disagree with your transitional protection payment calculations, you can request a聽mandatory reconsideration聽of your Universal Credit entitlement.听
You can request a mandatory reconsideration when you receive your statement at the end of an assessment period.
Recalculations
Your transitional protection payment will only be recalculated following a decision to:
- accept a request for a mandatory reconsideration
- backdate your legacy benefits 바카라 사이트� for example, due to an appeal
- update regulations that affect the calculation of the transitional protection payment
Support
Universal Credit Migration Notice Helpline 聽
Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm 聽
Phone: 0800 169 0328聽 聽
0800 phone numbers are free to call from mobiles and landlines.
If you cannot speak or hear on the phone
Use our聽聽service to make a free, text-supported call to the Universal Credit Migration Notice Helpline. Dial 18001 followed by 0800 169 0328.听
If you use British Sign Language (BSL)
Use our video relay service聽to make a BSL interpreted call to the Migration Notice Helpline.
If you바카라 사이트檙e on a computer, visit the聽.
- Select Company to contact: 바카라 사이트�DWP (DA Languages)바카라 사이트�.
- Select Department: 바카라 사이트楿niversal Credit - if you have a Migration Notice letter바카라 사이트�.
If you바카라 사이트檙e on a mobile or tablet, use the InterpretersLive! app.
From the app:
- Select 바카라 사이트楧irectory바카라 사이트�, search for 바카라 사이트楿niversal Credit바카라 사이트�.
- Select 바카라 사이트楿niversal Credit - I have a Migration Notice letter바카라 사이트�.
- Select 바카라 사이트楥all Now바카라 사이트�,聽select Company to contact: 바카라 사이트�DWP (DA Languages)바카라 사이트�.
- Select Department: 바카라 사이트楿niversal Credit - if you have a Migration Notice letter바카라 사이트�.
- Select 바카라 사이트楥onnect Now바카라 사이트�.
If you need help, .
Help to Claim
If you need help to make your claim you can get free support from the Citizens Advice Help to Claim service:
Other financial help and support聽
If you get Universal Credit, you could be eligible for other benefits or financial support. You should바카라 사이트�check what you can get.听
You might be able to get바카라 사이트�.
If you바카라 사이트檙e in financial difficulties, you can get help and advice from the government, local councils, and other organisations, such as聽.
Updates to this page
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Page updated to reflect tax credits ending on 5 April.
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Clarified what changes of circumstances could end your transitional protection.
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Added how to ask for a review of your transitional protection payment. Added link to new pages: How the transitional element is calculated when you move to Universal Credit, and Money, savings and investments. Added details of the new Migration Notice Helpline video relay service for British Sign Language users.
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Added: If you cannot claim Universal Credit by the deadline date, you should contact the聽Universal Credit Migration Notice helpline as soon as possible. We can only give you more time to make a claim if you have a good reason. You must request this before聽the deadline date on your letter.
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Added links to: how to apply for Universal Credit and other financial support you could be eligible for if you claim Universal Credit.
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First published.