I'm worried about my benefits changing

Q: I've been getting Employment and Support Allowance for years and I’m in the support group. I've just received a migration notice from the DWP saying my ESA’s going to stop and I need to apply for Universal Credit. I’m worried about my benefits changing and unsure what happens next. Is there any support for me?

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A: A change in your benefits can be really worrying, but we're here to help you with the move.

We'll take you through what you need to know about switching to Universal Credit (UC), and what support is available along the way.

If you need help to apply, our Help to Claim team provide free, confidential support with making your new UC claim right up until you get your first correct payment.

You can contact the team by telephone, webchat or using Relay UK - see details at the end of this article.

The first thing to be aware of is you won't be moved to UC automatically. You'll need to apply before the deadline in your migration notice, or your ESA payments will stop.

Applying before the deadline also means that you may be entitled to ‘transitional protection’.

Depending on your circumstances, you may be eligible for this support to make sure you aren't worse off when you are paid from UC.