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

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  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    · 1 days ago
    I had my standard identity appointment on November 5th (migrating from IB ESA) only didn't put up a fight about going to the job centre because I was hoping it would just be 20 minutes and done. I was there more than two hours. I was told how | needed to provide fit notes and make a commitment to searching for work. I knew this was wrong form what I had read, I told them so, but they continued as though I was a new claimant searching for work. Luckily the guy I saw was lovely, even if I had no Idea about ESA migration (the woman I saw before was rather patronising) he spoke to someone and found out how I don't need to provide fit notes, but continued to talk about my commitments to search for work. I told him I didn't have to, but to go through it anyway as we'd be there all day. Even though the person I spoke with was lovely, the whole experience was awful and incredibly stressful, there will be people with more severe conditions than me that will go through this, I can only sympathise, as I am still exhausted and in pain 2 days later.

    i made a journal entry asking for some clarification and was told I would get a call, the call never happened. I really feel like I should make a complaint, but I just want it to be sorted. I hope people have much better experience than I did.
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    · 1 days ago
    Managed transition 11 oct 2024 Glasgow Scotland. 
    What can I say. It was a shock. I knew I would loss tax credit for my 2 older girls. One is in college and turns 20 in dec the other just turned 18 and off to uni. My youngest 15.
    I am LCW was previously paid £1154 child tax credits every 4 weeks and income related ESA. I had severe disability payment, personal allowance, disability payment cap and it all amounted to 480.20 every 2 weeks. 

    So, the form was so easy nothing difficult and nothing to answer about my disabilities. 

    I was told to remove my eldest daughter from a dependent to an additional family member. 

    My award with transitional payment is £777 per calendar month. 

    I get £383 personal allowance.
    £333 child dependent 
    £233 transitional protection

    My total award would be 1345 per mth but because of some ESA I continue to be paid it is deducted. 

    I cried for days. I questioned the calculations asked how anyone can live on that to be told it’s not up to me how you spend your money…

    So, I’m now being supported by my daughters at college and uni. If I hadn’t paid my mortgage off I would have my house up for sale now. 
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    · 2 days ago
    Has anyone had any good experiences with migrating from ESA to UC I haven't seen any yet. The government are in a rush to push through migration to UC that they don't care about the stress it's causing people. Surely there's a simply way. Never liked UC. 
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    · 2 days ago
    The UC asked me twice to prove fit note and I was very confused so I wrote to them that I’m in ESA Support Group and I moved to UC without break so I don’t need to provide fit 
    note because is illegal and you are breaking law. So they text me back the said just ignore it. 
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    · 2 days ago
    What is the regulation for iR ESA WRAG LCW for not having to produce a sicknote?

    I know it is Reg 19 for ESA Support Group LCWRA
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    · 2 days ago
    I’m currently going thru migration from esa to uc an have 2 kids 1 who is autistic an another who is visually impaired and I’m to sit with no money at all from my last payment on the 24th oct until 2nd of dec an to top it off they only paying part of my rent I have heart failure an struggle daily but again I’m not entitled to pip an now struggling with this migration process as wasnt assessed as. A payment protected migraines was a new claim. ?
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    · 2 days ago
    I was migrated from ESA support group to universal credit. first I wasn't given
    Limited capability for work and work-related activity £416.19.
    So I didn't get housing. This was rectified. I get some directly to housing, 
    now I am dealing with council tax, mine has increased 3 times. universal credit has 
    said nothing to do with them. I have called council tax department and they are
    looking into this and will get back to me.
    If you are in the support group and migrated over you do not need a sick-line. 
    I am now waiting for my Adult Disability Payment. (November)
    I cant apply for my Blue Badge and need this for travel around Christmas
    | hope that everyone migrates to UC easy and have a lovely Christmas 



    Scotland ED
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    · 2 days ago
    I’ve just completed the “managed” migration from IrESE (support group), with Child Tax Credits.  Firstly expect several letters informing you that “our records show that you are not in receipt of IrESA please contact your benefits office to update THEIR records.  Obviously frantic phone calls to the DWP over several weeks, only to be told that I am in receipt of IrESA and have been for 4 years due to a Neurological Condition.  Then the first statement omitted the Transitional Protection Element, further phone calls and Journal entry resulted in the amount being added to my claim.  Several letters from the HMRC informing me that my Child Tax Credit had ended, several phone calls later, an advisor admitted tome that the letter was poorly worded as there was no mention it was because I was migrating to UC.  Overall the sheer anxiety and apprehension was for me overwhelming, and my daughter took over who has a Masters Degree in Mathematics, her phone call to the UC helpline was not pleasant and subsequently the issues were resolved.  I had that support, what concerns me is what about those people who do not?
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 1 days ago
      @David My carer has worked as a manager for various senior Civil Service posts. At a tough time he took a HB office role and said it was a shambles. My neurological condition from birth plus a later tumour means my ability to do maths or read forms is awful. A year or so back I had constant stress migraine due to noisy neighbours and my sight was so bad the Dr assumed tumour was back. Without my carer I would be stuck. Glad your daughter was able to help. KBO!
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    · 15 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.
    · 16 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.
    · 17 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.
      · 1 days ago
      @Eveshell Excellent and clear info. Bless you for sharing it. I had forgotten that CB isn't moved over to UC at all! The daft thing is I am on Contribution based ESA (SG) but because my partner gets Carers Allowance and IS / HB for us I assume we will be transitioned over soon anyway
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 14 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.
    · 23 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.
    · 24 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.
      · 23 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.
    · 25 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.
    · 25 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.
      · 6 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.
      · 8 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.
      · 23 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.
      · 24 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.
      · 24 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.
    · 25 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.
    · 29 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.
      · 24 days ago
      @Dee How long did it take to get first UC payment?
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    · 1 months 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.
    · 1 months 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.

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