When should I start my Universal Credit (UC) claim?
Read our guide to when to start your Universal Credit claim.
There are different situations that might lead you to apply for Universal Credit (UC). The right time to start your claim depends on how you are moving onto UC. Here’s a breakdown of the different ways this can happen.
Voluntary migration
This is when you choose to apply for UC on your own, without being asked by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). Some people think they’ll be better off on UC, but many end up with less income. Once you voluntarily make a claim for UC, you can’t go back to your previous benefits, and you will lose your right to transitional protection if you were eligible for it.
It’s a good idea to use the Turn2us Benefits Calculator to find out how much you might be entitled to.
Use the Turn2us Benefits Calculator
Tip: We strongly recommend speaking to a welfare benefits advisor before making a voluntary claim for UC. You can use the Turn2us Find an Adviser Tool to find local support.
Also, keep in mind that some benefits like Housing Benefit (HB), income-related Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA), income-based Employment and Support Allowance (ESA), and Income Support (IS), will continue for two weeks after you apply.
Natural migration
Natural migration happens when you make a new claim for UC or you have a change of circumstances while on legacy benefits which causes you to claim Universal Credit.
For example, if you receive Housing Benefit and move to a house in a different Local Authority area, to keep getting housing support you’ll have to make a new claim for UC.
Just like with voluntary claims, you won’t get transitional protection if you naturally move onto UC unless you were getting Severe Disability Premium at the time of your claim. It’s a good idea to use the Turn2us Benefits Calculator to check what extra support you might be entitled to.
Use the Turn2us Benefits Calculator
Managed migration
The final way to move to UC is through "Managed migration". This happens when the DWP contacts you to let you know your current benefit will end on a specific date, and you need to apply for UC. This won’t happen automatically, so you will need to make a new application for UC.
If you’re invited to claim UC this way, make sure you apply within the three-month deadline to qualify for transitional protection.
It’s really important to speak to a benefits adviser before making the move to UC to make sure your income is maximised. This means you have all the benefits and additional support you are entitled to. Once you’ve moved to UC, it’s too late to get any additional support you should have been entitled to while on your previous benefits.
If your benefits situation is complex, an advisor can help you decide if delaying your move from a legacy benefit is the best option for you. You can use the Turn2us Find an Adviser Tool to find local support.
If you are in work
It's usually best to apply for Universal Credit as soon as possible because of the five-week wait for your first payment. You can read more about this in our Waiting for your first Universal Credit payment guide.
It's also a good idea to avoid starting a claim too close to your usual pay day or towards the end of the month. This helps prevent the UC system from counting you as being paid twice in one month, which could reduce your UC payment.
Recently out of work
If you’ve just finished work, it’s usually best to wait until the day after you get your final wages or any holiday pay before you claim Universal Credit.
If you apply before this money is paid, it’ll count as income in your first assessment period. This can reduce the amount you get in your first payment.
Redundancy pay
If you are getting redundancy pay, you should apply for UC as soon as you can.
Redundancy pay does not count as income for UC.
It only affects your UC if it takes your total capital (savings and investments) over £6,000.
Read more about how your earnings and savings can affect your claim in our Universal Credit Income and Capital guide.
Childcare costs
If you pay for childcare, you may prefer to start your UC claim on the 1st of the month.
This means your UC payment is more likely to arrive before your next childcare bill is due, helping with budgeting.
For more information, visit our Help with Childcare Costs guide.
Advice and support
The best time to claim Universal Credit depends on your personal situation.
We recommend that you check your entitlement first using the Turn2us Benefits Calculator or speak to a trained adviser. This can help you make sure you’re getting all the financial support you’re entitled to and that you claim at the right time.