Women in our group and from the community have been contacting us about the move from ESA to Universal Credit (UC). We want to share what we found out — what you can do to keep your benefits, what rights you have, and some helpful tips. Get in touch if you want to add useful info from your own experience, or other suggestions.
Did you get a letter from the DWP about this?
Is the letter is telling you that something may happen in future? If it’s an advance announcement, you don’t need to start your claim yet.
If it says ‘You need to claim Universal Credit’ and gives a deadline, it’s an official ‘migration notice’. The deadline to claim is usually 3 months from the date of the letter.
Once you receive the migration letter, your options are:
- Starting your UC claim (there are different ways to do this).
- Ask for an extension to the deadline, if you need more time.
- There are limited reasons to request a cancellation and stay on ESA. We sought legal advice on this. So far, the DWP is not accepting health reasons except in extreme situations (see info below).
The DWP don’t automatically move you over to Universal Credit (UC) from ESA (plus Child Tax Credits if you have children) or Working Tax Credits (in part-time waged work). You need to make a claim for it.
You do have a choice not to claim UC — but the reasons they accept are very limited and you could lose out later.
Staying on ESA has to be agreed by the DWP. If you don’t do anything, your ESA will run out.
It’s scary, but here are some helpful things to know. We explain them more, further down the page.
- If you are in the ESA Support Group now, when you start your Universal Credit claim, you are entitled to get the disability addition immediately, without a new Work Capability Assessment. See here paragraph 10.1. This also applies to people in the Work-Related Activity Group (WRAG) from before April 2017. Some people have had problems getting this accepted.
- You don’t need to get a fit note from your GP. It should be confirmed in a message on your Universal Credit journal when you make the claim. It says: ‘You told us you are currently getting ESA. This means you do not need to provide a fit note to tell us about your health condition.’
- If they ask you for a fit note, see below.
- If you’re worried about managing the online journal, you can do your claim by phone entirely. You may want to record the phonecall (you can, as it’s about you) or have a friend/family member with you who can take notes. You can ask the DWP for important letters to be sent by post, for example, your statement of entitlement to UC. But the DWP might ring you at unexpected times, too, and you need to be prepared, which does not suit some people.
- Ask for “reasonable adjustments” straight away. These are things you need so that the process is adapted to your disability needs.
- Citizens Advice ‘Help to Claim‘ can give you advice and support, and is separate from the DWP. See: https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/benefits/universal-credit/claiming/helptoclaim/
- PIP is not part of Universal Credit. You keep it on top of Universal Credit, and your payments continue.
- Child Benefit is separate from Child Tax Credits and Universal Credit, and your payments continue.
Our page covers:
- What the government is doing
- How Citizens Advice ‘Help to Claim’ can help
- Your choices – can I stay on ESA?
- Financial risks of staying on ESA
- Maximise your benefits before you start your claim
- Things to know about payments
- Gap in payments and financial hardship
- I need more time
- If you miss your deadline to claim UC
- Ways to start your UC claim, and accessibility
- Keeping your ‘support group’ status or WRAG status
- I need ‘reasonable adjustments’ due to disability needs
- Ways to prove your ID
What the government is doing
Despite campaigns to try to halt the move to Universal Credit (UC) for ESA claimants, especially people who will struggle and could lose benefit, the Labour government is carrying on. They want all ESA claimants to get the “migration letter” about Universal Credit by December 2025, and to be moved over by March 2026. People have 3 months to claim UC, from the date of the letter.
There is a lot of evidence about people getting cut off benefits because you are not automatically transferred over to Universal Credit. People with mental distress, learning disabilities, everyone struggling with reading and writing, or not having access to the internet are being punished by this system. See our news for what WinVisible is doing to defend our benefit rights, and how you can get involved.
How Citizens Advice ‘Help to Claim’ can help
Some women have got assistance from Citizens Advice ‘Help to Claim’ who are familiar with ESA claimants moving to UC. We recommend to call them first, before starting with the DWP, to find out what you will be asked, and what payments you will get.
Help to Claim can:
- work out how much Universal Credit and added amounts you get
- provide support and advice when you do your online application for UC
- check your first payment is correct
- tell you the best date to start your UC claim, so you have the shortest gap in payments
- support you if you decide to start your claim by phone instead of online
- advise at any time what to do and how to make a complaint — if the DWP or Jobcentre refuse to make “reasonable adjustments” due to disability needs, refuse alternative payment arrangements, or any other problems that arise.
Help to Claim don’t offer face-to-face appointments at your local Citizens Advice branch.
Your choices — can I stay on ESA?
Some women say they are unable to cope with starting a fresh claim for Universal Credit. They want to postpone their move to a later time, or cancel it altogether. The standard reasons which the DWP accepts for cancelling the “migration notice” are very limited. For example, if you are in your 60s, only if you are six months away from claiming retirement pension (UC is for people of “working age”). This is harsh to women in their 60s whose retirement age keeps getting raised. Yet some benefits which have been “abolished” are being allowed to continue, such as DLA for disabled pensioners, and Income Support for some family carers.
People have asked Freedom of Information request questions on cancelling a migration notice, quoting the DWP: “A cancellation can also be considered if it is deemed to be in the interest of safeguarding the claimant based on their personal circumstances, complex needs and vulnerabilities”. See:
https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/cancelling_a_migration_notice_mo
https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/process_cancel_migration_notice
But the DWP doesn’t say in their answer, how they decide to postpone or cancel. (Thanks to Ken Butler, Disability Rights UK, for this info.)
We sought legal advice on what rights ESA claimants have, to call on the DWP’s discretion to defer (postpone) the migration notice or cancel it on health grounds. For example, you are about to have an operation and need some months to recover. Or if you can’t cope for other health reasons, and/or social reasons, such as being homeless.
It looks like they only agree to cancellation in extreme cases, such as terminal cancer.
Please contact us if you have asked for more than the usual extensions, the DWP has refused this (reasonable adjustments under the Equality Act), and you want to pursue a possible legal challenge.
You may want to write to your MP and ask them to support your request to the DWP for a cancellation. Please also copy in WinVisible on win@winvisible.org You can see how they reply and then decide what to do.
In the meantime, you should also request an extension to the deadline by calling the DWP UC Migration Helpline to make sure you don’t lose your entitlement. Call 0800 169 0328 (Monday to Friday 8am – 6pm).
Financial risks of staying on ESA
If you decide to opt out and cancel a “migration notice” successfully, but have a “change of circumstance” later on (such as moving home to a different local authority area, or becoming a couple) and need to apply for UC, you lose your right to transitional protection added payments, and your new claim does not take your old claim into account.
Transitional protection is added payments to keep your benefit the same as it was on ESA, not less. Transitional protection replaces severe disability premium added to ESA, for people getting PIP and living alone or with another disabled person. The amount varies according to your situation, but is substantial. See here
Maximise your benefits before you start your claim
If you are on ESA and PIP, and you live alone, or with someone who is also disabled, check that you are getting severe disability premium added to your ESA. This is extra money to help with disability costs if you live alone and are not getting practical support from someone non-disabled living with you.
Call the ESA helpline to check your entitlement: 0800 169 0310
Getting severe disability premiums with ESA means that you will be entitled to “transitional protection” payments once you claim UC. This was established by a legal case to ensure that ESA claimants didn’t lose benefit from moving to UC.
Things to know about payments
Shortest gap between ESA and UC payments. UC is paid monthly in arrears, at the end of your month, called the UC “assessment period”. People not on benefits already, wait 5 weeks or more for the first payment to come through. But ESA claimants get one more fortnightly ESA payment after you start your UC claim. So the date you start your UC claim is important.
For the shortest gap, it’s best to start your UC claim as soon as possible after the date of your last ESA payment. Citizens Advice ‘Help to Claim’ can help you work out the best date (see above).
Housing Benefit extra payment. As well as one more ESA payment, you also get Housing Benefit for two more weeks after you start your UC claim. After that, an amount for your rent called “housing element” is included in Universal Credit so it’s not from the council anymore.
Asking for UC fortnightly payments. On Universal Credit, you can ask to be paid fortnightly, instead of monthly, if that will help you manage. Ask for an ‘alternative payment arrangement’, on your journal as ‘service issue’, or by phone.
Rent paid directly to landlord by DWP. You can ask for your rent to be paid to your landlord directly. (This means you can’t withhold rent if there is a dispute such as lack of repairs). This is called an Alternative Payment Arrangement. You’ll need to explain why you want the rent paid to your landlord, for example, if you’re worried about remembering to pay rent. On your journal, you can put this request under ‘service issue’.
Some disabled people are on Contributions-based ESA which is not part of UC. When you claim UC, this other benefit gets converted to new-style ESA, is counted as extra income and taken off your UC. So basically, you get the same as other ESA claimants, not more.
Gap in payments and financial hardship
Claimants moving from ESA to UC generally do not wait as long as new claimants for payment to come in. If needed, there are payments you can apply for as soon as your UC application is made, so there is no gap.
PIP and Child Benefit are separate to UC and payments continue as usual.
UC Advance payment. There could be a gap in payment of a week or a couple of weeks. If you are struggling financially, you can apply for the UC advance payment straight away, which is deducted from your UC monthly amount later. You have to repay this over a year or two years. https://www.gov.uk/universal-credit/get-an-advance-first-payment
Emergency payments from your local council. Every local council has emergency funds for residents facing financial hardship. You don’t have to repay emergency funds. Your council usually asks for bank statements showing proof of low income, and low or no savings. https://www.gov.uk/cost-living-help-local-council
Rent – discretionary housing payment. If there is a rent shortfall, you can apply for a discretionary housing payment https://england.shelter.org.uk/housing_advice/benefits/discretionary_housing_payments_dhp
I need more time before starting my UC claim
You can request an extension, but you have to ask for this before your deadline to start your claim. Many of us are anxious, stressed and feel overwhelmed when we get the letter to claim Universal Credit. It’s understandable to be worried and need more time to get help and support, or you may not be well enough to deal with it. Or you might be homeless or in another type of crisis, where you need more time.
Call the DWP UC Migration Notice Helpline 0800 169 0328 (Monday to Friday 8am – 6pm) as soon as possible and request an extension, and explain why you need one.
The most time you can get for your first extension is four weeks after your deadline date. You may need this while you are waiting for a support organisation to help you. If you need a second extension, usually this has to be approved by a DWP case manager. You may need to give more medical information to show why you need more time.
Some women told us they were able to get several extensions in a row because of significant needs. They got these by calling the UC Migration Helpline explaining their situation. It is important to ask for the next extension before each new DWP deadline to start your claim. Otherwise you might lose ‘transitional protection’ – the added benefit to cover severe disability premium of ESA. It’s also important to ask for an extension within the deadline so you keep your disability status as a UC claimant, and your exemption from work conditions for benefit.
If you miss your deadline to claim
If you miss your deadline to claim, you will have a gap in benefit that will also stop Housing Benefit and Council Tax Support payments. For late claims, you only get your claim backdated, if you claim within a month of the original deadline. If you claim later than that, it’s likely you will be treated as a new claimant with no reference to before and you may have to go through the Work Capability Assessment.
You can still get transitional protection if you claim Universal Credit within a month after the deadline. The end of that month is known as the ‘final deadline’.
You can still claim Universal Credit after the final deadline, but you won’t be eligible for transitional protection.
Source: Universal Credit Migration Notice – When is the deadline? | Turn2us
If you are on tax credits (ESA + Child Tax Credit) you may not be able to get an extension of your deadline beyond 5 April 2025 when tax credits close down. See https://www.disabilitynewsservice.com/dwp-sets-strict-april-2025-universal-credit-deadline-for-all-disabled-people-receiving-tax-credits/
Ways to start your claim and accessibility
Online claim If you are ready, start your claim for Universal Credit here Universal Credit: How to claim – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
Before you get to ‘Apply Now’ at the bottom of the page, the website also lists what you need to start the claim. For example, your bank account details, an email address and access to a phone. You’ll also need to provide information such as your housing costs and your National Insurance number.
It lists the documents you can use to prove your identity (we’ll say more about proving your identity later on).
Citizens Advice ‘Help to Claim’ can support you while you do your online claim. You can call them with specific questions on 0800 144 8444. They won’t stay on the phone for the whole time you are making your online claim.
Phone claim to DWP. If you don’t have access to a computer or mobile phone, you can start your Universal Credit claim by calling the DWP UC Migration Notice helpline 0800 169 0328. You can do your claim by phone entirely. You can ask for important information to be sent by letter, for example, the statement of entitlement proving that you are on UC. But the DWP might ring you at unexpected times, and you need to be prepared, which does not suit some people. An advisor from Help to Claim can be on a 3-way call and support you for your application (they have a direct line to the DWP).
Easy Read by DWP (for new claimants) here
Visually impaired info here
English as a second language. If you need an interpreter you can request this through your online account, or by contacting the Universal Credit Service Centre or your local Jobs and Benefits office. A Universal Credit factsheet in different languages is on Universal Credit customer information
If you are not satisfied with the interpreting service, you can complain on the call by using the feedback option at the end of the call or by emailing your complaint to feedback@thebigword.com giving the time of the call, the date and the language used.
BSL
| DWP info for Deaf people. They say: 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 r elay 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’. |
DWP “enhanced support”. Some women who have told the DWP they are very anxious, have been told they will be contacted by Customer Support. But they are not given a choice about how to be contacted. This can include home visits so many people will not want this. One woman who couldn’t get to the Jobcentre, was told there is a 6-week wait for home visits.
Keeping your ‘Support Group’ status or WRAG status
If you are in the ESA Support Group now, when you start your Universal Credit claim, you are entitled to get the disability addition immediately, without a new Work Capability Assessment. See here paragraph 10.1. This also applies to people in the Work-Related Activity Group WRAG from before April 2017.
When you start your claim, say you are on ESA. That means, you will not need to have a Work Capability Assessment (WCA) or provide medical evidence.
You don’t need to get a fit note from your GP. This is now confirmed in a message on your Universal Credit journal when you make the claim. It says: ‘You told us you are currently getting ESA. This means you do not need to provide a fit note to tell us about your health condition.’
However, some women who were on ESA tell us that once they started the UC claim, they did receive an automated message asking them for a fit note.
Our friends at Edinburgh Coalition Against Poverty also raised the alarm about work coaches doing this in Edinburgh when people go to the Jobcentre.
If this happens, put a message on your UC journal saying that you are in the LCWRA group (like Support Group of ESA) or LCW (like WRAG) and don’t need to provide a fit note.
DPAC (Disabled People Against Cuts) has some helpful advice and a message to put on your journal or read out or show to a work coach:
| ‘I do not need to provide a fit note as I have already been assessed as having Limited Capability for Work/Limited Capability for Work and Work-related Activity, (delete as appropriate). Regulation 19 of the Universal Credit Transitional Provisions Regulations 2014 applies. It states that my LCW/RA status under ESA should transfer to the Universal Credit claim without the need for a new Work Capability Assessment and the LCW/RA element should be paid from the first UC payment. • The law can be found here: The Universal Credit (Transitional Provisions) Regulations 2014 • Your staff Guidance on this issue is here: Move to Universal Credit if you get a Migration Notice letter – GOV.UK • Director General Neil Couling has also acknowledged the issue and that the department is working on a ‘fix’ – see Neil Couling on X: “@rearend52 We aren’t yet into big numbers but to reassure, we have an existing process to catch these cases, not perfect works for most, but you will see cases when doesn’t. Given volumes going up we are developing a tactical fix, to catch all, as I write, with a full system fix due later.” / X Instead of me supplying a fit note, the Universal Credit Service Centre should use a MGP1 process to action the LCW/RA element in my UC claim.’ ESA to UC managed migration and fit notes – DPAC |
When you look at your situation and the change of benefits, if you are working part-time or are in the WRAG, you may want to apply for increased disability needs. You can apply to get UC disability element by filling in a UC50 form. We would recommend to do that after your UC claim is established, to avoid a gap in payments because of a query about which category you are in and what is your benefit entitlement.
I need ‘reasonable adjustments’ due to disability needs
Disabled people are entitled to “reasonable adjustments” under the Equality Act. This is anything you need to be provided differently so you can manage. Women suggest to ask for reasonable adjustments you might need, immediately. If your access need is not covered by the DWP checklist (below), you can write in your journal, to ask for things like more time to complete tasks and not being phoned without notice. You can ask for work coach meetings by phone.
If this is ignored, you can write a journal message or contact Help to Claim to raise complaints or ask your MP to write to the DWP.
DWP disability needs checklist :
Ways to prove your identity
If you are claiming online, there’s a list of documents to choose from. You need to select at least two. For example, a UK passport, credit card or bills like a phone contract. You won’t need to upload scans or pictures, but answer questions.
Here is more info about what is accepted Universal Credit application in the UK: Essential ID documents you must have | Teesside Live – Teesside Live
Once you complete your claim, it seems everyone is called in for a ‘standard identity appointment’ regardless of illness or disability, to prove your identity and to verify your claim.
You can write on your journal, why that is not possible for you.
If you are issued with a “Failure to Attend” for not going to the Jobcentre appointment, put a message on your journal why you are unable to attend, and ask for a phonecall as a reasonable adjustment.
Alternatives to going to the Jobcentre
As an alternative, you can ask for a phone call or video call where you will be asked questions to prove your identity.
A woman who asked for a home visit instead, was told there is a six-week wait for these! They eventually accepted other proof of ID in a phonecall.
Further info
Claimant commitment. Almost all UC claimants are expected to agree to a claimant commitment, which can range from minimal to heavy conditions for benefit, depending on your situation. If you refuse to do this, they can cancel your claim.
People who were in the ESA Support Group don’t have to agree to any work conditions for benefit, only agree to report any changes.
People who were in the ESA Work-Related Activity Group, will have work focused interviews or other work preparation. (See above if you have increased disability needs and want to apply for exemption from work conditions for benefit.)
You shouldn’t be asked to sign a claimant commitment if you are terminally ill, are considered incapable of managing your own money or have an appointee (someone who supports you with managing benefits and bill payments).
Signing a claimant commitment can be temporarily waived under exceptional circumstances, like a domestic emergency.
If you don’t sign a claimant commitment your UC claim will be completely withdrawn. So if you want to challenge or change your claimant commitment, it’s often best to sign it and then apply to have it changed afterwards, for example, you can make a case on your UC journal why you can’t manage those commitments. See our main UC page for more info.
Resources
Our main Universal Credit page
Benefits and Work update (independent welfare rights organisation) https://www.benefitsandwork.co.uk/news/esa-to-uc-mandatory-migration-faq-update
Citizens Advice page https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/benefits/universal-credit/before-you-apply/moving-to-universal-credit-from-other-benefits
Disability Rights UK free Universal Credit Guide for Disabled Claimants
Disabled People Against Cuts https://dpac.uk.net/2024/11/esa-to-uc-managed-migration-and-fit-notes/
Edinburgh Coalition Against Poverty https://edinburghagainstpoverty.org.uk/?page_id=181
Search for local advice places Advicelocal
** Get in touch if you have any comments to make this self-help info better! We will see how it goes with the format, but wanted to get this out for people to use.
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