Briefing note: Managed migration to universal credit

At least 340,000 people who currently claim legacy housing benefit (HB) will be issued with migration notices in 2024 telling them to apply for universal credit (UC) within a 3 month period. People who do not apply before the deadline risk having their benefits payments ended.

Shelter is concerned that due to the significant differences between housing benefit and universal credit, there will be claimants who struggle to make a new claim on time. If their housing benefit is cut off as a result, this puts them at risk of rent arrears and homelessness. We are calling for the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) to slow the rollout to people who only claim housing benefit and make sure there are adequate safeguards in place to identify and support people who may find the move to UC difficult.