Migrating to Universal Credit question

[WhoWants2Know]

I've had a letter to say I'll be migrating from tax credits to UC In October. The change from weekly payment to monthly will be an adjustment, so I'm wondering if I can make it easier by somehow timing it so that the Universal Credit is paid a couple of weeks before my salary is paid in.

Has anyone managed to do that and did it work out ok?

Make sure (if you can) that your assessment period begins and ends mid month - preferably around the 15th of the month if you're paid around the 25th. That way, you won't be screwed over by being paid early for Christmas or times when work pay you on the Friday before, putting two salary payments into one assessment period.

Uc is paid one month and seven days after the date you apply online, so if you want this to be two weeks before pay day you can time your application accordingly.

What happens if you get your wages weekly, what's the best time to apply?

It's not such a problem - but if you get paid early/double before Christmas, it's probably best to also aim for before the likely final pay date.

It makes no difference to when you apply. If paid earnings weekly your Uc amount will vary each month depending whether you have had four or five paydays fall in your Uc monthly assessment period.

That's exactly what I needed to know, thanks!

You'd be better applying for it yourself before waiting to be migrated, that way you can choose the date. That's what I did. Bear in mind UC will be paid 5 weeks after you first apply. I made my application on the 2nd of the month, so my monthly entitlement period runs from the 2nd to the 1st of the following month, my payday is the 24th every month so it works out. I then get my UC paid on the 8th of the month.

So as an example, say you get paid on the 24th and you want your UC 2 weeks before - make your application on the 3rd, then you will get the UC on the 10th of the following month.

And do tax credits payments stop as soon as you put in the application for UC?

I received one final payment a couple of days after applying, then it stopped. You might find you have to pay some back, I switched last December and had a letter in April saying I'd been overpaid £80 of tax credits, which they took out of my May UC payment.

There's some useful info on these links

https://www.understandinguniversalcredit.gov.uk/tax-credits-customers/tax-credits-are-ending/

https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/benefits/universal-credit/before-you-apply/moving-to-universal-credit-from-other-benefits/#h-if-you-ve-had-a-letter-telling-you-to-claim-universal-credit

https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/benefits/universal-credit/before-you-apply/how-universal-credit-is-paid/

https://www.understandinguniversalcredit.gov.uk/new-to-universal-credit/how-and-when-youll-be-paid/

And if you would like tailored advice on it you can contact Citizens Advice 'Help to Claim' team https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/benefits/universal-credit/claiming/helptoclaim/

That's terrible advice firstly when invited to apply via migration you get three months to apply so you do get to choose the date.
Secondly if you don't wait for managed migration you loose transitional protection.

Well it worked fine for me.

That's nice but taking that advice would screw over every single person who would receive less money on UC than they did on TC.

The OP is in the managed migration process because she has received a migration letter, so she does need to claim UC before the deadline and would get transitional protection (if eligible).

The best tactics for migrating often depend very much on individual circumstances which is why it's a good idea to contact Help to Claim as they can ask all the relevant questions and advise accordingly.

Remember to keep the advance payment in mind- it’s paid almost immediately (within 1-2 days in my case) and is for the whole amount of your award. Really helps in that first month with working out timings

Hi. Tax credit to UC question. I will be starting a job this week as my husband has become unemployed. We are on tax credits til now claimed jointly (so the money came to my account although I wasn't the one employed). Will we continue to get tax credits if we inform them that I will be starting work (and that my husband is now unemployed ) or will this trigger them to ask us to migrate to UC? I would rather stay on tax credits as that's what I'm used to. We don't get any other benefits.

Firstly your husband should claim new-style JSA if he's hasn't yet done so.

Secondly yes you should inform the tax credits office about both changes in circumstances. Whether or not you'll still be eligible for tax credits depends on a few things - how many hours will you be working, do you have children and how old are they.

Do you rent or pay a mortgage?

You might actually find that you'd be better off on UC. Contact help to claim and ask them to do a better off calculation. They will advise you with no obligation to claim UC.

Yes I am well aware of that I was replying to another poster who advised others to apply for UC outside of the managed migration so pre letter.

But they still will eventually. Managed migration is not permanent.

i think you mean TP is not permanent it is until it naturally erodes. So there is no end date but if your UC award was due to go up it will but your TP will reduce. You will never be worse off. The only exception is the 12 month grace on savings.

What is this about 12 months grace on savings please?

Any savings up to £16k will be treated in the usual way for assessing UC; but any savings over £16k will be disregarded for 12 months.

Oh right I don't have savings over 16,000 🤣I wish

Apply ASAP.