Universal Credit (UC) - Do I need to claim Universal Credit (UC)?

If you are already claiming any of the benefits that Universal Credit replaces, you can carry on getting your benefits until you have been issued with a managed Migration Notice. If you have any change of circumstances, your existing claims for these benefits will end. You won’t be able to make new claims for any of the benefits Universal Credit replaces.

Applying for Universal Credit is voluntary. However, you might find that a change of circumstances means you need help that is now provided through Universal Credit.

If you have had a change of circumstances, you should speak to an adviser to find out whether this means you should make a claim for Universal Credit.

Everyone will be asked to make a claim for Universal Credit through a process called ' managed migration '. At the moment, the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) plans to send all legacy benefit claimants their managed Migration Notices by the end of December 2025. People who get ESA started to receive their Migration Notices in September 2024 and will continue to get them throughout 2025. Tax Credits will end on the 5th April 2025, and all other legacy benefits will end on 31 March 2026.

If you've received a Migration Notice letter, read our guide on Universal Credit Migration Notice.