Major Universal Credit shake-up coming in DAYS – what you need to know

Once you move over, you won't be able to go back to legacy benefits.

The majority of those who are expected to get transitional payments - around 400,000 - are claiming Employment Support Allowance (ESA).

Around 100,000 are on tax credits while fewer than 50,000 each on other legacy benefits are expected to be affected.

Examples of those who may be entitled to less on Universal Credit according to the government include:

• Households getting ESA who and the Severe Disability Premium and Enhanced Disability Premium
• Households with the lower disabled child addition on legacy benefits
• Self-employed households who are subject to the Minimum Income Floor after the 12 month grace period has ended
• In-work households that worked a specific number of hours (eg lone
  parent working 16 hours claiming Working Tax Credits)
• Households receiving tax credits with savings of more than £6,000 (and up to £16,000)

Eventually anyone who hasn't moved over to Universal Credit will be notified that they will be switched.

If you do find you're better off on Universal Credit you can start making a claim straight away.

But beware that your benefits will stop, and you will have a five week wait for your first Universal Credit payment, which could leave you short.

You can get an advance, which is interest-free, but you'll pay this back in instalments from future payments which will reduce how much you get each month.

Moving to Universal Credit can affect other benefits you get, so check this carefully too.

For example if you're getting council tax help you'll need to tell your local authority you've switched to Universal Credit.