Move to Universal Credit if you get a Migration Notice letter

Only read this guidance if you get a Migration Notice letter

To continue getting financial support, you must claim Universal Credit by the deadline date in your letter.

If you have not received a Migration Notice letter visit the Universal Credit guidance.

If you or your partner is State Pension age

There are different eligibility rules and guidance if you get a Migration Notice letter and you’re:

Tax credits, Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA) and Income Support have ended and been replaced by Universal Credit.

The following benefits are also ending soon:

Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)

Other benefits, such as Personal Independence Payment (PIP), will stay the same.

Your benefits will end even if you decide not to claim Universal Credit.

To continue receiving financial support you must claim Universal Credit by your deadline date.  

If you cannot claim by your deadline date, contact the Universal Credit Migration Notice Helpline.

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.

To find out how a representative or appointee acting on your behalf can help you, visit Get help with your Universal Credit claim.

If you have an appointee who is responsible for making and maintaining your benefit claims, your Migration Notice letter will be sent directly to them. They will need to make the Universal Credit claim for you.

Moving from Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)

If you’ve been receiving ESA, you will not need to provide medical evidence such as fit notes, or have a Work Capability Assessment (WCA) if all the following apply:

you move from ESA to Universal Credit without a break

you were in the ‘support group’ or ‘work-related activity’ group in ESA when you made your claim to Universal Credit 

You may need to have another assessment if your WCA is due for a review or your condition changes.