Check if you should move to Universal Credit from other benefits

Having a baby or becoming responsible for a child won’t end your benefits.

You can only start getting Child Tax Credits if you’re already getting Working Tax Credits. This is until 5 April 2025. If you’re sent a migration notice, it's worth claiming Child Tax Credits before claiming Universal Credit if you have time before your deadline. This is because it might help you get a higher amount of Universal Credit. Check if you can get Child Tax Credits.

If you already get Child Tax Credits, you can add a new child to your claim until 5 April 2025. The amount you get might go up. If you have a migration notice, you should make this change before claiming Universal Credit if you have time before your deadline. This is because it might help you get a higher amount of Universal Credit.

If you don't already get tax credits, or if you become responsible for a child after 5 April 2025, you'll probably be better off claiming Universal Credit instead. Talk to an adviser to check if you’ll be better off claiming Universal Credit. 

Your Income Support will end if all of the following apply:

• you’re a single parent

• your youngest child has turned 5

• you’re not a full-time carer for someone who’s sick or disabled

Talk to an adviser to check if you’ll be better off claiming Universal Credit.

If you're claiming Housing Benefit and you’ve moved to an area with a different local council, your Housing Benefit claim will end. You can find your local council on GOV.UK.

If you’ve moved to a different home in the same council area, you can stay on Housing Benefit if the claim was in your name.

The claim might not be in your name if you were claiming Housing Benefit with a partner and you've now separated from them. Check if the benefit letters are addressed to you - that means the claim was in your name. You can also ring your local council to check - find your local council on GOV.UK.

If you’re getting other benefits Universal Credit is replacing, you can keep getting them - but you must tell the DWP you’ve moved.

You won’t be able to get tax credits after 5 April 2025 - this is because Child Tax Credits and Working Tax Credits are ending.

Talk to an adviser to check if you’ll be better off claiming Universal Credit.

If you and your partner move in together

If you or your partner gets Child Tax Credits or Working Tax Credits, they will end when you move in together.

You can keep getting Housing Benefit, income-related ESA, income-based JSA or Income Support when you move in together if your partner:

• isn't getting Universal Credit 

• doesn’t earn enough to stop you getting your benefits

To keep getting income-based JSA, either you or your partner also needs to have children.

Talk to an adviser to check if you’ll be better off claiming Universal Credit.

What you need to do depends on the benefits you’re claiming and how your work situation has changed.

If you or your partner starts working or your hours go up

If you get income-based JSA, income-related ESA or Income Support, they will stop if either:

• you start working 16 or more hours a week

• your partner starts working 24 or more hours a week




If you start working, you can only keep getting ESA in some situations. Check what work you can do while getting ESA. 

If you’re getting Child Tax Credits you might be able to start getting Working Tax Credits (WTC) as well. This depends on your situation and how many hours you’re working. You can check how many hours you need to work to get WTC.

Tax credits will end for everyone in April 2025, so you’ll only be able to get them for a limited time. If you’re sent a migration notice, it's worth claiming WTC before claiming Universal Credit if you have time before your deadline. This is because it might help you get a higher amount of Universal Credit.

If your earnings go up, the amount of benefits you’re getting might go down. Starting work or increasing your hours might mean you get less from the benefits you’re claiming. You might be better off getting Universal Credit - talk to an adviser to check if you’ll be better off.

If you stop working or your hours go down

If you're getting Working Tax Credits (WTC) and you stop working enough hours, your WTC might end. Check how many hours you need to work to keep getting WTC.

In some cases you can keep getting WTC for a limited time when you stop working, for example if you:

• lose or leave your job

• go on maternity leave

• go on sick leave and get Statutory Sick Pay

Check how long you can keep getting WTC.

Your other benefits won't end because you stop working or your hours go down. You might be better off getting Universal Credit - talk to an adviser to check if you’ll be better off.

If you and your partner have a joint claim for Working Tax Credits or Child Tax Credits, your claim will end.

If you were claiming Housing Benefit, ESA, JSA or Income Support with your partner, check if the benefits are in your name. 

If the benefit letters are addressed to you - that means the benefits are in your name. If you’re not sure, you can check with the DWP. Their contact details will be on any benefit letters you’ve received.

If the benefits are in your name, you’ll keep getting them. If the benefits aren’t in your name, they’ll usually stop.  

If you're getting JSA and don’t have children, the rules about whether or not you can keep getting it are more complicated. Talk to an adviser to check if your JSA will stop. 

If you get Working Tax Credit or Child Tax Credit, you can keep getting tax credits for now until tax credits end on 6 April 2025.

Your tax credits will end when you're sent a migration notice. You’ll need to move to Universal Credit.

You can’t usually claim Universal Credit if you, and your partner if you have one, have both reached State Pension age. It’s usually best for you to claim Pension Credit.

Check if you can get Pension Credit rather than Universal Credit. If you need help with housing costs, you can also claim Housing Benefit.

If you have a partner and only one of you is State Pension age

If you’re over State Pension age but your partner is under State Pension age, you can't usually make a new claim for Pension Credit or Housing Benefit. You can only make a new claim for Pension Credit or Housing Benefit if both the following apply:

• you or your partner reached State Pension age before 15 May 2019

• you’ve been claiming Housing Benefit or Pension Credit as part of the same couple since before 15 May 2019

If you get tax credits, you might get a migration notice telling you to apply for Universal Credit. If you’re in this situation you can talk to an adviser.

If your benefits end, you'll usually have to apply for Universal Credit.

If you're over State Pension age and getting certain other benefits, you won’t be able to get them after you reach State Pension age. These benefits are: 

• Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)

• Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)

• Income Support

If your younger partner is getting one of these benefits, they can keep getting them - and either of you can keep getting Housing Benefit. All of these benefits will end if one of you gets a migration notice.

You might also keep getting Housing Benefit if you live in some kinds of accommodation - for example if you:

• live in temporary accommodation

• rent from a county council, charity or housing association and get care or support

Your Housing Benefit claim won’t end if you're still allowed to start a new claim. Check who can make a new claim for Housing Benefit.