Tell us about a benefit change
Every five to six years, the calendar makes it so we have 53 Mondays instead of the usual 52. This coming financial year, 2024 / 2025, is one of those special years.
If you get Universal Credit, the Department for Work and Pensions will only pay for 52 weeks of your rent in a year. In a 53 week financial year, this means there will be one week of rent that will not be covered by Universal Credit.
Find out what we're doing to help and what to do if you're affected and already struggling with the cost of living.
Do you have an account?
Usually, we ask you to create an online benefit account before you apply. But our system is overloaded at the moment because of COVID-19. If you do not have an online benefit account, please just fill out the form using the link below.
If you already have an account, you can still access your account to complete forms and view your personalised benefit information.
Universal Credit Migration Letter
If you have received a Universal Credit Migration letter please do not contact us but go to the DWP’s website or you can call the Universal Credit Migration Helpline for free at 0800 169 0328. We will also be automatically informed by the DWP if you make a claim for Universal Credit so there is no need to contact us. Further information is provided at gov.uk/ucmove.
For further help and advice about universal credit migration you can go to Citizens Advice.
IT IS VITAL THAT YOU RESPOND TO THIS LETTER AS YOUR EXISTING BENEFIT WILL BE ENDING AND YOU NEED TO CLAIM UNIVERSAL CREDIT.
Ready to begin?
The application form should take between 10 and 20 minutes to complete.
You will need to have your personal and change details ready.
Evidence
Upload scanned evidence of your change or do this later.
What happens next
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We will send you an email confirmation.
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We will implement the change in your benefit claim within 10 working days if we have received all evidence required. We will contact you if we need more evidence