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DWP will stop or end your Universal Credit transition protection for five reasonsThe DWP is currently in the process of migrating all remaining benefit claimants who have yet to switch to

Universal Credit, with all claimants set to receive a letter by the end of this yearCommentsNewsWilliam Morgan Senior reporter05:25, 11 Feb 2025People claiming old-style benefits receive

'transitional protection' to make sure their payments do not drop when they move to Universal Credit Over the past three years, the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has been working to

speed up the switch from "legacy" benefits and tax credits to Universal Credit, a process bogged down by setbacks since its 2013 inception.

However, these older benefits will soon be completely phased out, with all remaining claimants not yet on Universal Credit due to get a letter by year's end instructing them to transition

within three months or risk losing DWP support. Therefore, final payouts for these benefits are set for March 2026.

‌ Those on Jobseeker's Allowance, Housing Benefit, and Income Support have mostly moved to the new scheme, while all remaining tax credit recipients must shift by March or have their

payments ceased. The last to undergo the "managed migration" are the 800,000 solely on income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA), or in combination with Housing Benefit.

‌ Benefit recipients fretting about reduced financial aid under Universal Credit can take comfort in the 'transitional protection'. This should maintain equivalent monthly payments, although

it's critical to note this safety net might be forfeited for various reasons.

DWP has implemented a protective system for those who lose out on income when migrating to Universal Credit In fact, if you fail to respond to the migration notice sent to you by the DWP

within three months, you will never receive this automatic transitional protection in the first place. After which, you will have to make a fresh claim for Universal Credit, reports the

Manchester Evening News.

Article continues below The value of this protection to your monthly benefit payments can fall over time, typically if other life circumstances mean an increase in your Universal Credit.

There are five main reasons for this, which would include having a child, becoming a carer, worsening health, rent increases, or even if the government changes benefit payment rates.

The DWP provides an example to illustrate how this works: "Jane's current Universal Credit payment is £800, which includes a transitional protection amount of £200.

"Jane has a second child added to her claim. This increases her Universal Credit amount by £50. This means Jane's transitional protection amount will decrease by £50. However, her total

Universal Credit payment is still £800."

‌ The only exception to this rule is if you receive additional support for childcare costs, which will leave your transitional protection intact.

However, certain changes in your circumstances could result in the complete termination of your protection, rather than a reduction. Significant changes to your Universal Credit claim could

occur if a partner moves into or out of your household.

Similarly, if you start earning enough to hit the earnings threshold and reduce your benefit payments to zero for four calendar months - often referred to as an "assessment period."

Article continues below If your earnings drop below this threshold after the four-month period, you'll need to reapply for Universal Credit and won't receive the transitional protection. If

you disagree with the calculations of your transitional protection payment, you can request a mandatory reconsideration with the DWP.