Have you been through the universal credit (UC) managed migration process or are you going through it right now?

Could you share your experiences with other readers?

You may have had a very straightforward migration and your positive result will be encouraging for others waiting to be moved.

Or you may have encountered difficulties which it would be helpful for readers to know about in advance, so that they can be prepared for them.

We have a growing number of resources for members being migrated from employment and support allowance (ESA) to UC on our ESA/UC guides page.  But we know that there is no substitute for  hearing from people who are further along the route than you are.

So, please do share your story in the comments section below – it may make a real difference to your  fellow claimants.

In your comment, any of the following details will help us to try to find a pattern to who is being migrated first:

  • details of which benefit(s) you were migrated from,
  • whether you were in the ESA support group or LCW group,
  • roughly when it happened, or whether it is still happening now,
  • roughly what area of the country you live in,
  • the first letter of your surname

Please only comment on this article if you are sharing your experience of migrating or asking a question from someone who has shared - other comments won't be published here.

More general comments can be posted at ESA to UC managed migration has begun

Comments

Write comments...
or post as a guest
People in conversation:
Loading comment... The comment will be refreshed after 00:00.
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    · 10 days ago
    So ive had my migration letter.  Im very concerned.  Im on pip and esa with severe disability payment.  Although it states they have this transition paymeny.  They also state this drops if the general uc amount goes uo.  Meaning its a stealth way of removing it.  I will be on the same as everyone else at some point even though i have to pay everything on my own.  
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    · 12 days ago
    Eveshell Thank you for your very detailed and helpful account. Your calm and steady approach is reassuring and goes to show you can insist on your needs and proper process, and that there is help when you need it.
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    · 13 days ago
    We are in the process of migrating from Income Related and Contribution based ESA (joint claim, both in Support Group) to Universal Credit. We completed our forms online. As soon as we were able to post on our journals we added: "As we are migrating from ESA Support Group, we transfer to the equivalent group on UC under Reg 19, therefore, do not need fit notes, not do we need to see a Work Coach. " We also put on our journals: "As we are being migrated over from ESA to UC, we are entitled to Transitional Protection." We received messages on our journals, telling us appointments had been made at the Job centre to verify our ID. We posted on our journals that because of our anxiety and disabilities, we cannot attend face to face appointments and please can we have telephone appointments instead. The original appointments were cancelled and were changed to telephone appointments. We were told that if we couldn't complete the ID verification over the phone, they would arrange a home visit. They rung us, asked some ID questions, they were security questions and we had to upload confirmation of our names and address, these were our Council Tax Bills. They then confirmed our ID was approved. We had to upload documents from our landlord to confirm our rent amount, name, address and signatures. We did this. They then posted on our journals that the Housing element was approved. We are now waiting for our first Universal Credit payment, should be in about 3 weeks. Our Contribution based side of ESA will continue to be paid as normal. Only the Income Related part will be moved to Universal Credit. We have had help from both Citizens Advice and Welfare Rights, both have been brilliant. They worked out what the Universal Credit payment should be, with everything added over with transitional protection and helped us with any questions we had. They also said they will continue to help if something isn't correct with the payments. The Citizens Advice Bureau's contact details are on the migration letter. We communicated with them through email as this was better for us. We highly recommend you contact them, it will make the process lots easier. We hope our experience helps. We are in Lancashire.
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 10 days ago
      @Eveshell Hello, Thanks for your helpful post. Am about to do the online claim next week. could I ask when do you get access to the online journal as i have been told to write in it as well?
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    · 19 days ago
    Regarding UC Reviews. If you dont have a camera. What happens when they ask for a selfie with your ID? I can't seem to find much information on this.
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    · 20 days ago
    Can anyone help me with this situation.   I am helping a gentleman migrate over and he has mental health issues, which means he can't remember things and will not be able to use an online journal.  I asked if he could get letters as that would be the best form of communication for him.  They have said that is not possible.   But surely under the disability act they would have to. 
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 19 days ago
      @Jaxmags Hi Jaxmags, I would call Citizens Advice Help to Claim-0800 144 8444 to get advice about this for the gentleman you are helping. I have registered with them in advance of the ESA to UC migration and found them helpful.
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    · 21 days ago
    Well reading all these horror stories I no know what to expect with migration there's only one positive comment
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    · 21 days ago
    ’m currently being migrated from income-based ESA, Support Group, to UC. In Southampton, Hampshire. Surname beginning G.
    Although it seems that my ESA will not be incorporated in my UC, but rather separately as New Style ESA. All very odd. It seems like my wife will be potentially getting her own NS-ESA, rather than being part of my award as before with ESA. She was immediately asked to a job centre interview re looking for work, which she’s had. She’s to have a work health assessment. I wasn’t troubled by them at first but have been now. I had been working part-time Permitted Work. Now it seems my part-time work might not be enough. A phone interview is pending. We’re feeling pressured that we might be pushed into working more than we’re able. Maybe I’ll have to quit my work altogether. All is to play for at the moment.
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 1 days ago
      @Southampton ESA migration Regulation 19 states no fit notes needed as in support group

      2. and mention Regulation 44, which gives you transitional protection and no need to attend a work interview.
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 3 days ago
      @j112009
      1. Reg 19 states no fit notes needed as in support group

      2. and mention Regulation 44, which gives you transitional protection and no need to attend a work interview.
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 19 days ago
      @HRH
      sorry, i have correct info. Not Reg 44

      1. if in support group before migration to UC, then regulation 27(3) of the Universal Credit Regulations [2013] does not apply

      2. then Regulation 19 comes into effect

      3.if entitled to old-style ESA on the date of the claim for UC and (in LCWRA cases) had LCWRA, they are (as per 19(4)(a) and (b)) to be treated as having LCWRA without a new work capability assessment or fit note
      🙏
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 19 days ago
      @j112009 i have never dont this myself but would assume you would tick the unemployed box.

      this is my summary from others posts
      1. 
      2. Send messages to the Case Manager.

      3. When you have typed your message in the drop down menu choose " payment " so then your message will be routed to the Case Manager who should have had the training in Regulation 19. 

      4. Reg 19 states no fit notes needed as in support group

      5. and mention Regulation 44, which gives you transitional protection and no need to attend a work interview.

      Good luck

    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 20 days ago
      @HRH No disrespect, but I hope your analysis is wrong for purely selfish reasons since my surname starts with K.
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    · 21 days ago
    Just received the migration notice letter. Living in London and surname starting with P.
    Does anyone has a copy/download of the migration IC form?
    All the best wishes to all.
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    · 25 days ago
    Moved over to u  in June and wasn’t given transition protection had to leave notes on my journal which were ignored or they didn’t know why and weren’t helpful phoned the helpline and explained I was meant to have protection and it hadn’t been added all I got told was well we will message your work coach and get them to chase it up waited again still no reply eventually took 7 weeks to sort out when it should have been done automatically since i migrated over no apology no reason why was ever given had to keep at them to get it done. During all this had to do there health assessment which to be fair was straightforward did have to do assessment but Iv ended up worse off on uc 
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 20 days ago
      @Dee How long did it take to get first UC payment?
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    · 25 days ago
    I got my letter to move yesterday 8th Oct. Dated the 3rd October.
    Got till 4th Jan ( 3 months) to claim or stop receiving financial support.
    I'm on housing benefit and income based ESA in support group.
    I live in Reading.
    Not looking forward to this as the comments here aren't painting a pretty picture.
    Good luck to everyone.



  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    · 26 days ago
    Migrated fron IS to UC . self and partner on PIP plus 2 x CA.   Given an award of £0 . I knew from using benefits calcultors (turn2us and entitledto) that this was incorrect. Phoned up and told I needed to communicate via the online journal. I stated on the journal that they had failed to include the Carers element (even though they had deducted Carers Allowance) . I specifically stated how much we should be getting paid ,including the transtional protection amount. They responded within a few hours and ammended the payment to the figures i gave them.
    Did they orginally make an honest error in their calculation or where they playing dumb about the Carers element and not including it unless you questioned it ?
    My advice would be to make sure you know exactly what you should be getting before applying(or during) using Benefits Calcultors , info on here (benefits and work) and any other accurate information online. If the amount they give you doesn't match then pursue it. If it becomes too much contact CAB for help and support through the process.
    Best wishes.
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    · 26 days ago
    Hi
    It has been awful. Really awful. There is no training or support for ppl on the support group. They put me straight into the intensive work search group and terrified me in the process.  There is no advocate or help to ease through the extensive questions on the phone and I was forced to speak in the phone
     Even though ESA are fully aware of my situation. False information regarding benefits would roll on for an extra 2 weeks was given and the advance payment àka loan was the only option given in random to support for new D my three children all of us have additional needs....

    I'm still not there yet. I have another three weeks of food banks and watching every penny of the  DLA that my child gets


    If you haven't been through this yet... Save money. And be careful. Get paid up what you can before hand, cue water phone freeze food... Call bills and explain situation. Octopus energy are amazing and have been so kind and helpful

    Read up on your rights. The UC man didn't seem to know anything about managed migration when in support group.

    Good luck x
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    · 26 days ago
    I was moved on to UC as husband going on pension he has dementia and I have long term mental health and physical disability  I was started on the process on the 1 July I have had two payments and I now my payment is 0 due to husband having ESA ????? That stopped in August as you can not have two state benefits I was on income support stopped in July have been having lots of help from the people who answered the phone and and they have expedited it to work coach who will ring by 6 that day I am now on my fourth day with no reply or phone call who actually works for uc as the poor people on the phone are no wiser than me don’t need this as life is stressful enough so thank you UC head team still no reply 
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    · 26 days ago
    I have just received my migration letter (surname P, Scottish Highlands). It says that it will be completed by 26th December. What a lovely Christmas present.
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    · 26 days ago
    Yeah , I've had my letter. I was distraught. Move by Dec 13th or loose your benefits. 
    Amazing timing by dwp again - let the disabled go without cash for 5 weeks , in winter , leading up to Xmas 🙃

    I went to my job centre and have worked out with them when I need to claim by to ensure I get cash by 1st Dec. 
    So 28th Oct I'll be going back over to job centre so they can sit with me while I fill it all in. 
    That way , it shouldn't go wrong haha and if it does , I can blame them and get them to fix it
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    · 26 days ago
    My husband gets Cont based esa and is in the support group, and I receive IS.  The CAB helpline is fantastic, they were very thorough explained everything very clearly, that his support group status should migrate with him and there will  be no expectation to attend interviews or medicals.  They were able to give us a calculation for how much we could expect.  

    Then you have to open an online account, not so straightforward (I'm pretty tech savvy but I didn't find it easy so feel incredibly sorry for those who struggle with technology).  Beware of them getting things wrong which can trigger incredible anxiety...so my husband was told immediately that he needed to attend an interview, queue huge panic!  I filled in the journal on his behalf to explain that he would likely be too ill to attend at which point they responded saying 'oops sorry you are in the support group so you do not have to attend'!  Then he got a message saying he had to provide a fitnote and may have to attend an assessment!  Again, when I queried it they said 'oops no he doesn't need to'!  This causes me massive stress dealing with it on his behalf, as I have adhd and anxiety and depression myself, but it makes my husband ill, it's like being on a yo-yo!!!  Not actually had any money yet, and there was also a massive mix up about my carers allowance, despite me registering a change twice via the internet and then once over the telephone. 

    My experience is that because it is all internet based it makes it so much more open to errors, someone ticks the wrong box or you don't answer a question in quite the right way and suddenly you are being asked to attend interviews / assessments that maybe you don't eventually need to but it still triggers massive anxiety/stress.  Not particularly impressed so far but it is the way everything is going now...and will all be ok until there is a massive power/or internet outage and then everything will grind to a halt. 

    Best wishes to everyone dealing with the horrible benefit system :-)
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    · 26 days ago
    I am in the process of helping several claimants to move from ESA to UC.  All suffer with poor mental health issues.  I have spoken to the migration team on a couple of occasions and have to say, I found them to be very helpful.  We needed an extension on the date of migration to sort a matter with the ESA for one lady, this was granted without any fuss but we were told we may not be given a further extension, if it proved necessary.  So, if ESA did not move quick enough this lady may not receive her ESA entitlement before having to migrate.
    One big thing I would stress to anyone being asked to migrate and on legacy benefits, PLEASE ENSURE THAT YOU HAVE AN UP TO DATE CLAIM WITH ESA BEFORE YOU MIGRATE.
    I have had to contact ESA on several occasions to have a claim for Severe Disability payment reinstated on the claimants ESA claim.  UC do not pay another benefit in place of this and had we not had this reinstated the claimant would have lost the right to claim that element once she migrated.  I was also informed that had we migrated whilst the decision was being made with ESA, it would cease on the date of migration.  So it is essential to have any decision with ESA completed before you migrate as there is no way of picking this up at a later date.
    I did find it to be very baffling how when I spoke to ESA about UC they had no idea about how UC works and when I spoke to UC about ESA, they also had no idea about ESA.  Neither benefit would discuss what the other benefit would do in certain circumstances.  For claimants trying to get all of their "ducks in a row" before migration occurs, this lack of information is not very helpful.  
    In one call to ESA I had to inform them that UC do not pay an equivalent payment for severe disability.  I was insistently told by ESA that all of the claimant's benefits would remain the same and that she wouldn't lose anything.   It took a lot of effort on my part to get the lady to understand that only the benefits being received from ESA on the date of migration would be paid by UC on legacy benefits.  Had I taken her information as being correct, we would have migrated and lost the right to make a claim for severe disability.  
    I strongly believe this approach of being unhelpful and ill informed is leaving many claimants migrating without sufficient information to hand, which then could mean losing an element of their claims. 
    The waiting time of over 1 hour for ESA to accept a call is not something many claimants with mental health can manage.  
    Overall, it is not surprising that so many individuals are not reapplying for their benefits or chasing up matters with their benefits as it all becomes too much for them to deal with.
    It would be very helpful for claimants to have a point of contact to receive the correct information on their benefits, ongoing and future claims.  
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    · 26 days ago
    I was migrated from working tax credits into UC in April 24. I had more than £16k savings due to a recent inheritance, which hadn’t affected my wtc and which I was intending to use to buy a house. I am also in receipt of PIP and I get a grant from access to work to pay a support worker to help me continue my self employment. The first month my UC payment was £0. I reminded them of the rule that savings over £16k should not be counted in the first year as I was migrating from a legacy award. I also reminded them that the minimum income floor did not apply for the first year as it counted as a new business being my first claim of UC. They then awarded me £643. Since then, this first award has been recalculated to 0 around 6 times, and each time I have had to get an MR to get it reinstated. I have also had a repayment registered against that first award which has been taken from subsequent awards twice, and although it has been overturned it has not yet been repaid to me. It is very tiring to have to continually contest them and ask them to apply their own rules correctly. I will no longer be eligible for UC after the first year as my savings are still over £16k ( earmarked for major repair works on new house). Luckily I will get my pension in July 25 so will no longer care. 
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    · 26 days ago
    We switched over last month after getting the migration notice in the summer. I was dreading it but the process was pretty straightforward, filled the form out online with our details and then we had to go to the job centre to show id we got our first payment last week. After all this time worrying over it im just glad its done now 

Free PIP, ESA & UC Updates!

Delivered Fortnightly

Over 110,000 claimants and professionals subscribe to the UK's leading source of benefits news.

 
iContact
We use cookies

We use cookies on our website. Some of them are essential for the operation of the site, while others help us to improve this site and the user experience (tracking cookies). You can decide for yourself whether you want to allow cookies or not. Please note that if you reject them, you may not be able to use all the functionalities of the site.