Migration notice and transitional protection
You must claim Universal Credit within three months of the date on the Migration Notice. If you miss this deadline, your existing benefit entitlement will end and you will lose any entitlement to "Transitional Protection" when you do claim Universal Credit.
Transitional Protection is the difference between your existing benefit or tax credit entitlement and Universal Credit. If you were better off on your existing benefits or tax credits and you claim Universal Credit before the deadline date then you should be no worse off when you move to Universal Credit.
After the deadline
If you make your claim for Universal Credit after your deadline date (3 months from the date on your Migration Notice) then you will not be paid any Transitional Protection.
There are certain circumstances where you can request an extension to the deadline day for claiming Universal Credit, but this must be requested before the deadline.
You do not have the option to stay on your legacy benefits.
If you claimed Universal Credit before the deadline day, your entitlement to legacy benefits will end on the day before you become entitled to Universal Credit. This is extended by two weeks if you are entitled to a run-on payment of Housing Benefit, income-based JSA, income-related ESA or Income Support.
If you do not claim Universal Credit by the deadline given, your last day of entitlement to your existing benefits will be 2 weeks after your deadline date.
Your Housing Benefit entitlement will not end if you are in supported or temporary homeless accommodation.
If your Universal Credit includes Transitional Protection there are
- changes that can decrease your transitional protection payments (GOV.UK) and
- changes that end transitional protection (GOV.UK).
Transitional protection also means you might be able to get Universal Credit when you wouldn’t usually be entitled to it. If you:
- are a full-time student who wouldn’t usually get Universal Credit, you can usually get it until the end of your course
- get tax credits and have over £16,000 savings, you can get Universal Credit for up to a year.