Transitional protection and Universal Credit
This information applies to England and Wales.
There are 2 types of transitional payment when you move to Universal Credit. You might be eligible for 1 of these, depending on your situation:
- If you have a change in circumstances while you are receiving Severe Disability Premium, you may be eligible for the transitional element of Severe Disability Premium.
- If the DWP moves you to Universal Credit in a ‘managed migration’, you may be eligible for transitional protection.
These 2 benefits are different. The transitional element of Severe Disability Premium is less than transitional protection.
Most people are worse off receiving Universal Credit. But these payments can help in the short term.
Warning You might not be eligible
You are not eligible if you have a change in circumstances and are not receiving Severe Disability Premium.
For example, you would not be eligible if all the following apply. You:
- move house to a new local authority
- have to start a new claim for Universal Credit, because you were receiving Housing Benefit
- are not receiving Severe Disability Premium
Starting a new Universal Credit claim
If you must start claiming Universal Credit, do this as soon as you can. If you do this, you will usually not need to have another Work Capability Assessment.
Transitional payments reduce as your Universal Credit increases
If your Universal Credit rate increases, you will receive less in transitional payments. The total you receive will stay the same until you stop receiving transitional payments.
For example:
You start with receiving a total of £1,000 a month from:
- £900 Universal Credit
- £100 transitional element
Then, the Universal Credit rate goes up to £950. You would still receive a total of £1,000 from:
- £950 Universal Credit
- £50 transitional element
If the Universal Credit rate increases by another £50, you would still receive £1,000. The transitional element would then be £0.
If your Universal Credit rate goes up again to £1,050, you would receive all of it. This is because you would not be receiving any transitional payments.
Get advice to help you plan
Contact the Scope helpline to find out:
- if you might be eligible for transitional payments
- how your income could change when you start receiving Universal Credit
Transitional element of Severe Disability Premium
To be eligible for the transitional element, all the following must apply. You:
- still meet the eligibility criteria for Severe Disability Premium (SDP)
- start claiming Universal Credit after a change in circumstances within 1 month of your last SDP payment
If you are not sure what benefits you are receiving, contact the DWP.
If you need to start claiming Universal Credit, do this as soon as you can. Your old claim will stop.
Universal Credit: How to claim (GOV.UK)
The transitional element is less than transitional protection. This means that your income will usually be less when you start receiving Universal Credit. The transitional element will usually not be enough to make up the difference.
Change in circumstances
When something changes in your life, you need to tell the Department of Work and Pensions. This could include:
- moving house, particularly if you move to a new local authority if you are receiving Housing Benefit
- your rent increases
- starting a new job
- stopping work
- having a child
- a partner starts or stops living with you
- starting or stopping being a carer
What changes in circumstances might trigger a move to Universal Credit (EntitledTo)
If your partner starts living with you
You would need to make a joint claim for Universal Credit. You would not be eligible for the transitional element because joint claims are not eligible.
Warning Joint claims for Universal Credit are not eligible
You cannot start receiving the transitional element if you make a joint claim with someone who already receives Universal Credit.
For example, you would not be eligible if you moved in with your partner who receives Universal Credit.
If you are already receiving transitional payments, they will stop if:
- a partner moves in with you
- you move in with your partner
- you move out, and stop living with a partner
If you already live with a partner, you will get transitional protection if:
- you have a joint claim of legacy benefit,
- meet the criteria,
- and move to a joint universal credit claim.
Transitional protection and managed migration
You may be eligible to receive transitional protection if you move to Universal Credit in a ‘managed migration’. The DWP would write to you about this.
Your new income would not decrease when you start your new claim for Universal Credit. Transitional protection will make up the difference between your old claim and your new claim.
You are not eligible if you start claiming Universal Credit after a change in circumstances. For example, if you moved house to a new local authority. But you might be eligible for the transitional element of Severe Disability Premium instead.
Make your new Universal Credit claim as soon as you can
If you must move from an old ‘legacy’ benefit to Universal Credit, make your new claim as soon as you can.
If there is no gap between your claims, you will usually not need another Work Capability Assessment. If you did not have to look for work or do ‘work-related activity’ before, this should stay the same.
Check you are receiving your new benefits
Check your online Universal Credit account to find out if you are receiving either:
- transitional protection, or
- the transitional element of Severe Disability Premium
You should start receiving them automatically. If you are not sure, you can:
- leave a question in your Universal Credit journal
- contact the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP)
Moving house
Moving house is often a change of circumstance that would cause you to move to Universal Credit.
This is even more likely if you move to a different local authority and are receiving Housing Benefit.
There are exceptions
You could make a new claim for Housing Benefit instead of Universal Credit if any of the following apply. You:
- are over State Pension age
- move to temporary accommodation arranged by your local authority
- move to supported housing
Help with bills and food
Food
There are places where you can get free or cheap food. You do not need a referral to use some local food banks and pantries.
Free food, cheap food and food banks
Energy and water bills
Contact our Disability Energy Support service if you need advice on how to manage your energy and water bills.
Last reviewed by Scope on: 09/10/2023
Was this page helpful?
Great!
Tell us how it helpedWe're sorry to hear that.
Tell us how we can improve it