Transitional protection if you receive a Migration Notice letter
Financial help and support when you first move to Universal Credit from your current benefits or tax credits.
Applies to England, Scotland and Wales
This guidance is only for people who received a Migration Notice
Find out about Universal Credit if you receive a Migration Notice letter.
For everyone else visit the Universal Credit guidance.
What transitional protection is
Transitional protection helps with your move to Universal Credit.
If eligible, this protection means you can:
- get a transitional protection payment added to your Universal Credit entitlement if you receive more from your previous tax credits or benefits. This is known as the ‘transitional element’
- claim Universal Credit and have money, savings and investments over £16,000 for 12 assessment periods if you received tax credits. This is known as the ‘transitional capital disregard’
- claim Universal Credit if you or your partner are a full-time student in higher education until the course is finished. This is known as the ‘transitional student disregard’
Find out about people on tax credits and students moving to Universal Credit.
Eligibility
You do not need to apply for transitional protection.
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) will send you a letter called a Migration Notice, asking you to claim Universal Credit.
To be eligible for transitional protection, you must claim Universal Credit by your deadline date.
If you cannot claim Universal Credit by the deadline date on your Migration Notice letter, you should contact the Universal Credit Migration Notice Helpline as soon as possible.
We can only give you more time to make a claim if you have a good reason. You must request this before your deadline date.
Find out how to apply for Universal Credit.
Changes to your circumstances before you claim
If you have a significant change of circumstances before you claim Universal Credit, you may not be entitled to some elements of transitional protection.
Changes to your relationship status before you claim will mean you are not entitled to the transitional element. If a partner moves into your household and they did not receive a Migration Notice, you will not be entitled to any element of transitional protection.
Changes to your tax credits or benefits entitlement before you claim may mean you will not be entitled to any element of transitional protection.
Transitional protection payments
Transitional protection payments are an additional amount to help with your move to Universal Credit. They’re also known as the ‘transitional element’.
The payment, known as the transitional element, will make up the difference if your Universal Credit entitlement is less than your previous tax credits or benefits.
Example
Jane is entitled to £800 on her existing tax credits or benefits.
Her Universal Credit entitlement is £600.
This means Jane’s transitional protection amount will be £200.
Her total Universal Credit entitlement is now £800.
Find out more about how the transitional element is calculated when you move to Universal Credit.
How long your transitional protection payments last
Transitional protection payments are not permanent. They can decrease or end if your Universal Credit entitlement increases.
If you’re eligible, your transitional protection payments will continue until:
- your Universal Credit entitlement is the same or more than your previous tax credits or benefits
- you have a significant change of circumstances
Changes that can decrease your transitional protection payments
Your transitional protection payments can decrease over time following a change in your circumstances. Changes can include:
- having a child
- starting to care for a child or disabled person
- an increase in housing costs (rent)
- a worsening health condition
- changes to government benefit rates
This is because these changes are likely to increase your Universal Credit amount.
Example
Jane’s current Universal Credit payment is £800, which includes a transitional protection amount of £200.
Jane has a second child added to her claim. This increases her Universal Credit amount by £50.
This means Jane’s transitional protection amount will decrease by £50.
However, her total Universal Credit payment is still £800.
How your Universal Credit entitlement affects your transitional protection payments
If your Universal Credit entitlement increases, your transitional protection payment will decrease by the same amount. Childcare costs are the only exception.
Further increases to your Universal Credit amount can eventually end your transitional protection payments. This will only happen if your entitlement is the same or more on Universal Credit.
Changes to your circumstances after your claim
If you have a significant change of circumstances after transitional protection has been awarded to your Universal Credit claim, your transitional protection may end.
The following are significant changes of circumstances:
- changes to your relationship status, such as a partner moving into or out of your household
- changes that end your Universal Credit claim
Find out about your responsibilities and reporting a change in your circumstances.
If your Universal Credit decreases to zero due to your earnings increasing
If your earnings mean your Universal Credit is reduced to zero for 4 assessment periods in a row, your transitional protection will end. If your earnings then decrease, you may be eligible to apply for Universal Credit again, but will not receive transitional protection.
If your earnings drop below an agreed amount for 3 months in a row
If your earnings are equal to or above your ‘administrative earnings threshold (AET)’ in your first assessment period, and they drop below your AET for more than 3 assessment periods in a row, your transitional protection will end.
If you were eligible for the transitional capital disregard and your savings reduce to £16,000 or less
If your money, savings and investments reduce to £16,000 or less, your transitional capital disregard ends. Your claim will remain open, as you can claim Universal Credit with £16,000 or less under normal Universal Credit rules.
If your money, savings and investments go above £16,000 again you may no longer be eligible for Universal Credit.
Transitional protection payment reviews
If you disagree with your transitional protection payment calculations, you can request a mandatory reconsideration of your Universal Credit entitlement.
You can request a mandatory reconsideration when you receive your statement at the end of an assessment period.
Recalculations
Your transitional protection payment will only be recalculated following a decision to:
- accept a request for a mandatory reconsideration
- backdate your legacy benefits – for example, due to an appeal
- update regulations that affect the calculation of the transitional protection payment
Support
Universal Credit Migration Notice Helpline
Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm
Phone: 0800 169 0328
0800 phone numbers are free to call from mobiles and landlines.
If you cannot speak or hear on the phone
Use our Relay UK service to make a free, text-supported call to the Universal Credit Migration Notice Helpline. Dial 18001 followed by 0800 169 0328.
If you use British Sign Language (BSL)
Use our video relay service to make a BSL interpreted call to the Migration Notice Helpline.
If you’re on a computer, visit the video relay service.
- select Company to contact: ‘DWP (DA Languages)’
- select Department: ‘Universal Credit - if you have a Migration Notice letter’.
If you’re on a mobile or tablet, use the InterpretersLive! app.
From the app:
- select ‘Directory’, search for ‘Universal Credit’
- select ‘Universal Credit - I have a Migration Notice letter’
- select ‘Call Now’, select Company to contact: ‘DWP (DA Languages)’
- select Department: ‘Universal Credit - if you have a Migration Notice letter’
- select ‘Connect Now’.
If you need help, view a YouTube video.
Help to Claim
If you need help to make your claim you can get free support from the Citizens Advice Help to Claim service:
Other financial help and support
If you get Universal Credit, you could be eligible for other benefits or financial support. You should check what you can get.
You might be able to get different support in Scotland.
If you’re in financial difficulties, you can get help and advice from the government, local councils, and other organisations, such as advicelocal.uk.
Updates to this page
Published 1 December 2023Last updated 10 February 2025 + show all updates
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Clarified what changes of circumstances could end your transitional protection.
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Added how to ask for a review of your transitional protection payment. Added link to new pages: How the transitional element is calculated when you move to Universal Credit, and Money, savings and investments. Added details of the new Migration Notice Helpline video relay service for British Sign Language users.
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Added: If you cannot claim Universal Credit by the deadline date, you should contact the Universal Credit Migration Notice helpline as soon as possible. We can only give you more time to make a claim if you have a good reason. You must request this before the deadline date on your letter.
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Added links to: how to apply for Universal Credit and other financial support you could be eligible for if you claim Universal Credit.
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First published.