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<\/p>\nTHOUSANDS of people on tax credits will see a major change to their benefits before Christmas. <\/p>\n
The government is currently moving those on so-called "legacy benefits" such as\u00a0tax credits\u00a0onto\u00a0Universal Credit.<\/p>\n
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Millions of people are still on these old-style\u00a0benefits, but the government plans to move all claimants onto Universal Credit by the end of 2024.<\/p>\n
The move, called\u00a0Managed Migration, began in May last year.<\/p>\n
Now households in three more areas of the country will get managed migration notices from December.<\/p>\n
Eligible\u00a0households\u00a0are being contacted via letters in the post which tell them how to make the move from tax credits to Universal Credit.<\/p>\n
From December, the\u00a0Department of Work and Pensions\u00a0(DWP)\u00a0will make contact with people in the following areas:<\/p>\n It comes after the DWP said all Tax Credit household across the UK will have been contacted about\u00a0moving to Universal Credit\u00a0by the end of 2024.<\/p>\n Once you receive a letter, you have three months to move over, or you could lose your current benefits.<\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n Over two million people are still on old-style\u00a0legacy benefits, but the government plans to move the majority of them onto\u00a0Universal Credit\u00a0by the end of 2024.<\/p>\n In most cases, individuals will be\u00a0better off following a move from legacy benefits to Universal Credit.<\/p>\n But 300,000 could be worse off, and should not move until they absolutely have to as they could end up with less money.<\/p>\n Where an individual's Universal Credit payment is lower than their legacy benefits entitlement, they will usually be entitled to a top-up payment known as\u00a0Transitional Protection.\u00a0<\/p>\n This means that their Universal Credit entitlement will be the same as their legacy benefit entitlement at the point they move.<\/p>\n Recipients who receive a migration notice and fail to act will risk losing their current benefits entitlements.<\/p>\n It's also worth noting that a change in circumstances before you receive a managed migration notice might deem you ineligible for tax credits and if so you'll may be asked to apply for Universal Credit directly instead.<\/p>\n There are two types of tax credits – working tax and child tax credit.<\/p>\n You can choose to move over to Universal Credit from tax credits at any time – but it is best to check before doing so as you might not be better off.<\/p>\n You should consider carefully what moving over means for your money, as you can't move back once you're on Universal Credit.<\/p>\n The government estimates that around 700,000 tax credit claimants could be better off.<\/p>\n Using an online benefits calculator can help you compare and are free and easy to use from charities such as\u00a0Turn2Us\u00a0and\u00a0EntitledTo, and it's also worth asking them for advice.<\/p>\n The managed migration process first began earlier this year following a successful pilot in Bolton, Cornwall, Harrogate, Harrow, Medway and Northumberland in July 2019.<\/p>\n Households in the following six regions were contacted in April:<\/p>\n Households in the following three regions were contacted in June:<\/p>\n Households in the following five regions were contacted in July:<\/p>\n Households in the following four regions were contacted in August:<\/p>\n Households in the following eight regions were contacted in September:<\/p>\n Plus, households on tax credits living in Northern Ireland were asked to claim Universal Credit from October 16.<\/p>\n The process will then expand to Southwest Scotland when letters will be posted from November.<\/p>\n Universal Credit is a welfare scheme that was designed to combine a number of old "legacy benefits" into a single monthly payment.<\/p>\n Whether you are eligible will depend on your individual circumstances.<\/p>\n You may be eligible if you meet all of the following criteria:<\/p>\n Universal Credit payments are made up of a standard allowance and then various additional payments that depend on your circumstances.<\/p>\n This is how much you will get as your standard allowance each month:<\/p>\n You may also get additional payments depending on your circumstances.<\/p>\n You may be able to get a top-up if you have children:<\/p>\n If you have a disability you could get an extra amount depending on your circumstances:<\/p>\n<\/picture>ALL CHANGE <\/span><\/p>\nMajor change to Universal Credit as Govt try to plug high levels of vacancies<\/h3>\n
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Which other regions have received letters?<\/h2>\n
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What is Universal Credit?<\/h2>\n
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How much is Universal Credit?<\/h2>\n
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