Are you being moved to Universal Credit?

The move from legacy benefits by the DWP in this manner is being referred to as ‘managed migration’.  Many people may not be familiar with the term, or what it means for them until they receive a ‘migration notice’. That is a letter from the DWP informing them that they must claim Universal Credit by a given deadline as their legacy benefits will end.

At Citizens Advice we understand that being moved from existing benefits to Universal Credit can cause uncertainty, worry and be disruptive to household budgets.  We also know that receiving the right advice and support to navigate the managed migration journey can be really helpful, and in our experience even generate positive, if surprising, results.

Whatever way you look at it, managed migration is an important matter for people going through it. As the local CAB for Argyll and Bute, we want to share a few, really key messages about it:

• Benefits are changing. We would encourage people to access reputable advice, so they don’t lose out  financially.

• It’s important to understand that different welfare benefits work together and a managed migration notice doesn’t just affect a single benefit, it may have an impact other benefits.  

• There will be transitional protection available to make sure that incomes don’t go down when you immediately move to Universal Credit.  However, it is really important that you claim Universal Credit within the dates specified on your migration notice if you are to benefit from transitional protection. There are options if you cannot claim by the stated deadline day, but please, speak to an Adviser.

Speaking to Jen Broadhurst, Manager at Argyll and Bute CAB, she explained why it’s so important to claim Universal Credit by the deadline stated in a migration notice. 

“If people don’t claim Universal Credit by the deadline they risk having their legacy benefits end on the day before the stated deadline. People risk losing out on getting top-up amount transitional protection on their Universal Credit, and even more worryingly, people could be left with no financial support for 5-6 weeks after the deadline, i.e. the normal wait time for first Universal Credit payments to take place”.

Jen shared how one client contacting the CAB for help and advice after receiving her migration notice was found to be not receiving the correct amount of housing benefit.

“The Adviser checked all the client’s benefit figures very carefully and identified that the client wasn’t receiving the correct amount of housing benefit and that had been going on for a considerable length of time.  Sadly, the shortfall in housing benefit had left the client and her family really struggling every month. Getting in touch with the Council, the CAB’s Adviser got the matter corrected and also secured several thousand of pounds of backdated housing benefit owed to the client – money which would have helped the family manage better within their budget".

"CABs’ specialise in holistic advice, that is people come to the CAB with one issue and our highly trained Advisers’ routinely identify other needs and provide help across a wide range of matters.  In this client’s case, she came to the CAB for help with managed migration to Universal Credit, but she wasn’t aware she was being unpaid the amount of housing benefit that she was entitled to.  And that wasn’t all, the client was also identified to need some help with a range of other issues including getting help sort out the dampness and mould in her social housing association home; help applying for disability welfare benefits and more. This is just one example of how CAB advice really works for people.  CAB Advisers are highly trained and provide a wide range of support and advice suited to an individual’s needs".

Jen added

Did you know?

Argyll and Bute CAB is here for anyone living in Argyll and Bute; advice is free, impartial and always completely confidential.  The CAB has premises centrally located in Lochgilphead, MidArgyll, provides face to face advice in all the main towns, online, via webchat, telephone and email. 

Tel: 01546 605550
www.abcab.org.uk