Legacy benefits and universal credit

In most cases, new claims will come under the universal credit system. Therefore you cannot normally make a new claim for any of these benefits, known as 'legacy benefits':

• child tax credit
• housing benefit
• income-related employment and support allowance
• income-based jobseeker's allowance
• income support
• working tax credit

You must claim universal credit instead.

Already on a legacy benefit

If you are already getting one of these legacy benefits, you will eventually be asked to claim universal credit instead. You may also have to claim universal credit if your circumstances change.

Severe disability premium

If you are getting a severe disability premium (SDP) as part of one these benefits:

• housing benefit
• income-related employment and support allowance
• income-based jobseeker's allowance
• income support

you will continue to claim them instead of universal credit, even if your circumstances change.

If your circumstances change, you can still make a new claim for any legacy benefit if you are already getting an SDP in another legacy benefit or were getting an SDP in the last month before your claim and you continue to meet the rules for it. Get advice on this

Housing benefit

You can also still make a new claim for housing benefit if:

• you are living in supported or temporary accommodation or
• you (and your partner*) have reached pension age

* Before 15 May 2019, you could claim pension credit and housing benefit if either you or your partner had reached pension age . From 15 May 2019, you both have to be over pension age to make a new claim for either of these benefits. If one of you is under pension age, you will need to claim universal credit instead until the younger partner also reaches pension age.

Contributory benefits

You can still claim the following benefits if you have paid or been credited with enough national insurance contributions in certain tax years:

• New style employment and support allowance
• New style jobseeker's allowance

Tax credits

If you are already getting child tax credit, you can still add on a new claim for working tax credit. If you are already getting working tax credit, you can still add on a new claim for child tax credit. 

Carers

You can still claim carers allowance

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