Approximately 860,000 UK households currently receiving legacy benefits must migrate to Universal Credit by the end of summer 2026. This Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) managed migration primarily affects claimants of income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) and working-age Housing Benefit. Failing to claim Universal Credit by the deadline specified in a Migration Notice can result in legacy benefits stopping and the loss of crucial transitional protection, a top-up payment designed to cushion the financial impact of the move.

What is the Universal Credit Managed Migration and Who is Affected?

The DWP is completing the managed migration of UK households from six legacy benefits onto Universal Credit. The six legacy benefits being closed are: income-based Jobseekers Allowance, income-related Employment and Support Allowance, Income Support, Working Tax Credit, Child Tax Credit, and Housing Benefit.

This process is not new. Per DWP final statistics published on 13 May 2026, 360,030 individuals had their legacy benefit claims closed during the managed migration because they did not claim Universal Credit by the deadline on their Migration Notice. For more details on this cohort, refer to our earlier report.

Now, approximately 860,000 UK households remain on legacy benefits. These claimants are being migrated via an extension to the end of summer 2026. The managed migration of around 800,000 UK claimants of income-related Employment and Support Allowance (alone or in combination with Housing Benefit) began in September 2024. All claimants in that cohort were to be notified by December 2025, initiating their individual migration process.

How Does the Migration Notice Work?

Claimants on legacy benefits will receive a Migration Notice letter from the DWP. This letter informs them they must claim Universal Credit. Once this notice is received, the claimant has three months from the date on the letter to make their Universal Credit claim.

Adhering to this deadline is critical. If a UK claimant does not claim Universal Credit before the deadline day specified on their Migration Notice letter, the DWP closes their legacy benefit claim. Critically, the claimant also loses entitlement to transitional protection at this point.

There is a limited grace period. A claimant who has missed the deadline day on their Migration Notice can still receive transitional protection if they claim Universal Credit within one month of the deadline day. This one-month grace period is known as the 'final deadline'. After the final deadline has passed, any claimant who subsequently claims Universal Credit will not receive transitional protection, even if their Universal Credit entitlement is lower than their previous legacy benefit entitlement.

Claimants facing difficulties can request an extension. A UK claimant can request an extension to their Migration Notice deadline before the original deadline day. If the request is approved, the DWP will issue a new deadline day.

What is Transitional Protection and How Do You Keep It?

Transitional protection is a DWP top-up payment. It is paid for up to 12 months if a claimant's Universal Credit entitlement would otherwise be less than the legacy benefit they were receiving immediately before migration. This payment is designed to prevent a sudden drop in income for eligible claimants.

Keeping this protection depends entirely on timely action. As noted, claiming Universal Credit by the deadline day on your Migration Notice ensures eligibility for transitional protection. If that deadline is missed, claiming within the one-month 'final deadline' also preserves this entitlement. Missing both the deadline day and the final deadline means no transitional protection will be offered, regardless of any potential income reduction.

When Do Legacy Benefits Stop After Claiming Universal Credit?

The cessation of legacy benefits is not immediate upon making a Universal Credit claim. The timeline varies depending on the specific benefit.

• Housing Benefit, income-based Jobseekers Allowance, income-related Employment and Support Allowance, and Income Support all stop two weeks after a Universal Credit claim is made.
• Working Tax Credit and Child Tax Credit stop on the day a Universal Credit claim is made.

New Universal Credit claimants should also be aware of the payment cycle. Universal Credit is paid monthly in arrears in England, Wales and Scotland. Northern Ireland claimants can opt to receive payments twice a month. There is typically a five-week wait between a Universal Credit claim being made and the first regular payment landing in the claimant's account. To bridge this gap, a new Universal Credit claimant can apply for an Advance, which is a loan recovered from future Universal Credit payments over up to 24 months.

Who Qualifies for the Summer 2026 Extension?

The DWP's managed migration extension to the end of summer 2026 is not universal. It applies selectively to specific vulnerable groups. These include claimants of income-related Employment and Support Allowance who face serious barriers to claiming, and claimants of working-age Housing Benefit with complex housing circumstances or other significant support needs.

The summer 2026 extension does not apply automatically. A claimant on legacy benefits must actively engage with the DWP, their local authority, or a support charity to confirm whether the extension applies to their individual case. Proactive engagement is essential to determine eligibility and ensure continuous support.

What should you do next?

Review your Migration Notice immediately if you have received one. Note the deadline day specified on the letter. Missing the deadline closes your legacy benefits and ends your transitional protection.

If you are currently on legacy benefits such as income-related ESA or working-age Housing Benefit and have not yet received a Migration Notice, remain vigilant for its arrival. The managed migration of around 800,000 income-related ESA claimants began in September 2024, with notifications intended by December 2025. The summer 2026 extension is specifically for those with serious barriers or complex circumstances, requiring active engagement to confirm eligibility.

To avoid a gap in income and secure transitional protection, aim to claim Universal Credit before the deadline day on your Migration Notice. If circumstances prevent this, consider applying within the one-month 'final deadline' grace period. If you need more time, request an extension to your Migration Notice deadline before the original deadline day.

Claiming Universal Credit can be complex. Citizens Advice provides a free 'Help to Claim' service that supports UK claimants through the entire application process. This service is available by phone, online chat, and in some local offices, offering direct assistance to navigate the claim process.