Benefits Blog: Managed Migration for Tax Credit Claimants

RAF Benevolent Fund Welfare Benefits Advisor, Jen Kelly, outlines some key information for Tax Credit claimants who receive their Universal Credit (UC) Managed Migration Notice. 

UC is a benefit that was introduced in April 2013, over 10 years ago. It replaces the following ‘legacy benefits’: Child Tax Credit, Working Tax Credit, Housing Benefit, Income Support, Income-Based Jobseekers Allowance and Income-Related Employment and Support Allowance. 

Starting this year, full managed migration is being rolled out. This means that those getting legacy benefits will, at some point, get a Migration Notice telling them that their legacy benefits will stop and that they need to make a claim for UC by the date given in the letter. 

In 2023/2024 this will be happening to those who just get Child Tax Credit and/or Working Tax Credit (and no other legacy benefits). 

Those who get Child Tax Credit and/or Working Tax Credit, who get their Migration Notice, are strongly advised to claim UC by the date given in the letter. This is even if they don’t think they will be entitled to any UC, for example if they have carried out an online benefit calculation which has suggested this.  

The reason for this is because when UC is claimed under managed migration, you get something called Transitional Protection (which online benefit calculators may not include). This Transitional Protection means that most people who are getting Child Tax Credit and/or Working Tax Credit, who claim UC by the date given in their Migration Notice (or by any agreed extended date), should receive the same amount under UC (at least to start with). 

Those who miss the deadline in their Migration Notice will be unable to get this Transitional Protection, which is why it is so important to claim UC within the relevant deadline. 

If you want to speak about the above, or about benefits in general, give us a call on 0300 102 1919 or email advice@rafbf.org.uk.