Universal Credit

Universal Credit - Managed Migration

This page should be read in line with our Universal Credit - Overview and Preparing for Universal Credit webpages

What is Managed Migration

The Department for Work and Pensions have begun the process of moving individual’s who claim a legacy benefit onto Universal Credit. This process is known as Managed Migration.

You can learn more about the process of Managed Migration on the Government’s website.

Managed Migration is where the Government advise you to claim Universal Credit even though your circumstances have not changed. It is important that if you receive a Migration Notice letter from the DWP that you contact the Council for advice. If you fail to claim Universal Credit within three months, then your benefits will end and you will be left with no income. 

The process of Managed Migration in Sandwell will begin from 19 February 2024.

Timeline for migration:

Month (2024 unless stated otherwise)

Legacy benefit:

 

February

 
  • Working and receiving Tax Credits
  • Self-employed and receiving Tax Credits

 

April
  • Claimants of Income Support
  • Claimants of Tax Credits with Housing Benefit only

June
  • Claimants who only claim Housing Benefit

 

July
  • Claimants who received Income Related ESA and Child Tax Credits

August
  • Claimants of pension age who receive Child Tax Credits

September 2024 onwards
  • Claimants of income based JSA
  • Claimants of income related ESA

What if I claim Employment and Support Allowance?

The Government had previously advised that residents who claimed Income Related -ESA would not move to Universal Credit until 2028. The Government have now brought this date forward and residents who receive Income Related -ESA will now receive a migration notice from September 2024.

For those residents who claim a disability benefit such as Personal Independence Payment or Disability Living Allowance then these will remain unaffected.

Will I get a letter?

Yes, the DWP will begin sending Migration Notices to residents in Sandwell from 19 February 2024. This does not mean you will get your migration notice on this date. 

When you receive this letter, you must not ignore it. You should contact the Council as we can advise you of the best time to submit your Universal Credit claim.

If you fail to claim Universal Credit within three months of receiving your migration notice, then your benefits will come to an end and you will be left with no income. 

This also means you may not receive any transitional protection that you are entitled to.

Transitional Protection

The Government are committed to providing claimants with transitional protection. This means claimants who are migrated to Universal Credit will not receive a lower amount of money on Universal Credit than what they received on legacy benefits at the point of them claiming Universal Credit. 

If you do not claim Universal Credit within three months of receiving your Migration Notice then you will lose your transitional protection and be worse off financially. 

Who can help me?

If you are a Council tenant and receive a migration notice, then you should contact the Council’s Rents Team on 0121 737 5148 Monday to Thursday 9am – 5.30pm and 9am – 5pm on a Friday. Our Income Recovery Officers can advise you of the best time to claim Universal Credit.

If you are in the Private Rented Sector and receive a migration notice, then you should contact the Council’s Welfare Rights Team on 0121 569 3158, Monday to Friday 9am – 4.30pm where an advisor will be available to assist you.