Government target to finish moving existing claimants onto Universal Credit

The government hopes to finish moving all existing benefit and tax credit claimants onto Universal Credit by the end of 2024, with the exception of those claiming income-related Employment and Support Allowance (irESA)¹. The Department for Work and Pensions has not published a confirmed completion date beyond that stated aim, and no further timetable has been reported¹.

Universal Credit has now finished being rolled out for new claims across the UK, meaning that in every area almost all new claims for benefit are for Universal Credit rather than the legacy benefits: tax credits, Housing Benefit, and out-of-work benefits such as Income Support, Jobseeker's Allowance and Employment and Support Allowance¹.

Existing claimants move across in two ways. Those with a change of circumstance, such as starting or leaving a job, or a partner leaving or joining the household, must claim Universal Credit; this is known as natural migration¹. Claimants without a change of circumstance are asked to claim through managed migration, and do not have to move if they have not received a Migration Notice¹. Any legacy claimant can also move voluntarily at any time, though starting a Universal Credit claim ends the old benefits and there is no going back¹.

One effect of managed migration is that people who would receive less under Universal Credit receive a top-up payment called Transitional Protection¹. Anyone transferring from Housing Benefit, Income Support, income-based Jobseeker's Allowance or income-related Employment and Support Allowance continues to receive their existing benefits for an extra two weeks after the Universal Credit claim starts, a run-on payment¹. That two weeks is intended to help with housing costs while waiting for a first Universal Credit payment, which takes at least five weeks; the run-on is paid automatically on application, does not have to be repaid, and does not reduce the Universal Credit award¹.

Why it matters for households

Households still on legacy benefits face a move to Universal Credit either when their circumstances change or when they receive a Migration Notice. For those moved through managed migration who would be worse off, transitional protection tops up the award¹. The two-week run-on applies to people moving from Housing Benefit and the other listed benefits, and the first Universal Credit payment takes at least five weeks to arrive¹. Claimants on income-related Employment and Support Allowance are excluded from the end-of-2024 aim¹. The source does not set out amounts for transitional protection or run-on payments, and these have not been reported¹.

What happens next

The stated aim is to complete managed migration of all existing claimants except irESA claimants by the end of 2024¹. Claimants who have not received a Migration Notice are not required to move¹. No further dates have been reported¹.