Moving to Universal Credit – “Managed Migration”
The Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) is in the process of moving claimants still on legacy benefits to Universal Credit.
The legacy benefits are: means-tested Jobseekers Allowance; means-tested Employment Support Allowance; Housing Benefit; Income Support; Child and Working Tax Credits. You can’t usually make a new claim for these “old” benefits.
This process is called Managed Migration and has been taking place over a number of years. If you are contacted what you will need to do depends on what’s in the letter.
If the letter gives a deadline for you to claim Universal Credit, it’s a “migration notice”. The deadline should be at least 3 months after the date the notice was sent. You should claim Universal Credit by the deadline in the letter otherwise your benefits will stop.
If your letter doesn’t have a deadline, you don’t have to claim Universal Credit unless you want to – even if the letter says you’ll have to claim Universal Credit in future. It’s important to remember that you won’t be able to go back to your old benefits after you claim.
Your old benefits will stop after the deadline given in the letter. If you claim Universal Credit before the deadline, DWP might pay you extra to stop you being worse off. This is called “transitional protection”. This means that if you’d get less on Universal Credit than your old benefits, you’ll get an extra amount to make up the difference. The DWP will reduce the extra amount over time – so you’ll eventually just get what you normally would on Universal Credit.
If you don’t claim before the final deadline in the letter (which can sometimes be extended) you may lose any transitional protection granted so it is important to respond to the letter.
If you need help moving on to Universal Credit, you can talk to an adviser. Contact the Malvern office on 01684 563611, email: enquiries.malvern@citizensadvicesw.org.uk or the Wychavon office on 01386 712100, email: enquiries.wychavon@citizensadvicesw.org.uk.
Household Support Fund 5th Tranche – June 2024
Household Support Fund – South Worcestershire Citizens Advice has received additional funding from MHDC and WDC to support low-income households with rising living costs, particularly food and fuel. Applications opened in June and will be available until October 2024, or until the funding is fully allocated.
Please note that the Household Support Fund (HSF) is not an emergency support fund, and application processing may take several weeks.
Funds are awarded on a discretionary basis to households in need, particularly, but not exclusively, families with children of all ages, pensioners, unpaid carers, care leavers, and people with disabilities who are struggling with rising living costs.
The amount granted will be determined based on individual circumstances.
To apply you must:
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Be a resident of MHDC or WDC.
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Provide proof of income with your name and address.
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Complete the TRANCHE 5 HSF APPLICATION FORM – June 2024
If you are unable to access the form, please email welfaresupport@citizensadvicesw.org.uk
If you don’t have email please call us on 0808 2787 891
All applicants will be contacted via email following their initial enquiry regarding the next steps.
Cost of Living Support
The Government has announced further payments to help with the cost of living. Click here to find out what support will be available and when. Find out what other help may be available here.
Help paying your mobile, phone or internet bill
Social tariffs are cheaper broadband and phone packages for people claiming Universal Credit, Pension Credit and some other benefits. Some providers call them ‘essential’ or ‘basic’ broadband.
They’re delivered in the same way as normal packages, just at a lower price. Amid rising living costs, Ofcom is encouraging companies to offer social tariffs to help customers on low incomes.
Click here to find out more.
Help with Energy Bills
Rising energy bills are at the front of everyone’s minds. But how can you be more energy efficient and save money? And what support might you be entitled to for rising energy bills? Click here to find out more.
Ukrainian Crisis Response
Local authorities and support services are in a state of preparedness for when the situation in Ukraine creates the need for local support. Click on the links below to see what is happening in your area:
Malvern Hills District Council
Wychavon District Council
Appointments
We are no longer offering drop-in sessions so face-to-face appointments must be pre-booked.
The Worcestershire Adviceline is also available Monday-Friday from 10.00 am to 4.00 pm on 0808 278 7891
Our volunteers will be providing advice by telephone and email as follows:
Malvern
To speak to an adviser, please ring 01684 563611 or email enquiries.malvern@citizensadvicesw.org.uk
This service is available Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday from 10.00 am to 3.00 pm
Wychavon
To speak to an adviser, please ring 01386 712100 option 1, or email enquiries.wychavon@citizensadvicesw.org.uk
This service is available Monday, Tuesday, Thursday from 10.00 am to 1.00 pm
Need help to Claim Universal Credit?
Our Help to Claim advisers can help you with the early stages of your Universal Credit claim. You can talk to them on the phone, or online over chat.
Our advisers can help you:
- work out if you can get Universal Credit
- fill in the Universal Credit application
- prepare for your first Jobcentre appointment
- check your first payment is correct
You can read our online advice on Universal Credit at any time.
You can contact an adviser through our free Help to Claim phone service. Advisers are available 8am to 6pm, Monday to Friday:
Ask for a translator if you need to get advice in a different language.
Relay UK – if you can’t hear or speak on the phone, you can type what you want to say:
Relay UK (England): 18001 then 0800 144 8 444
You can use Relay UK with an app or a textphone. There’s no extra charge to use it. Find out how to use Relay UK on the Relay UK website.
For more information see: https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/benefits/universal-credit/claiming/helptoclaim/
