“You must claim Universal Credit by the deadline on the letter to keep getting financial support,” advises Citizens Advice. That message carries extra weight this month as new regulations take effect on 29 January 2026, shaping the final push off legacy benefits across the North. ([citizensadvice.org.uk](Link

Under the Universal Credit (Transitional Provisions) (Amendment) Regulations 2026, the Department for Work and Pensions can set the “deadline day” on a migration notice to match the legal switch‑off date for the old benefit. For Income Support and income‑based Jobseeker’s Allowance, that appointed day is 1 April 2026. ([legislation.gov.uk](Link

For claimants on Housing Benefit only, notices can point to the appointed day tied to the end of Housing Benefit in certain cases, helping people keep access to transitional protection by avoiding awkward cut‑offs right before benefits are abolished. This sits alongside existing guidance on setting and extending a “deadline day”. ([legislation.gov.uk](Link

Crucially, the instrument adds a fresh rule - regulation 63A - to repair a real‑world problem. Where someone tried to claim UC but failed DWP’s identity checks, kept receiving legacy payments in error, and then made a new UC claim, the Department can now treat them as if they were still entitled to those legacy benefits. That preserves transitional top‑ups, including for people previously receiving the severe disability premium.

Timing matters. Ministers plan to complete managed migration by March 2026, with final abolition dates for Income Support and income‑based JSA on 1 April 2026. ESA households have been receiving notices through to December 2025. ([commonslibrary.parliament.uk](Link

The North carries a larger share of UC health‑related caseloads. In September 2025, 44% of UC claimants in the North East and 42% in the North West were on a health component, compared with 32% in London - a reminder that missed deadlines could hit disabled people hardest. ([gov.uk](Link

Here’s how it may look on the ground. If a Burnley resident on income‑based JSA gets a migration letter in February with a deadline that would fall after 1 April, the DWP can now set that deadline to 1 April. Claim by that date - or within the following month - and transitional protection is preserved. ([legislation.gov.uk](Link

A second scenario: a Huddersfield tenant getting Housing Benefit in supported accommodation moves into a general needs flat. Since 14 November 2025, the law can end that HB award at the move, with housing costs switching to UC. If a migration notice arrives around the same time, get advice quickly to avoid gaps. ([legislation.gov.uk](Link

Local help exists. Gateshead Council sets out what a migration notice means and where to get support, including the standard three‑month window to claim and practical help with forms. Leeds City Council’s Welfare Rights Unit continues to offer free, confidential advice for residents. ([gateshead.gov.uk](Link

If your letter’s ‘deadline day’ feels impossible, ask for an extension before it expires. There’s also a ‘final deadline’ one month after the printed date that still protects transitional payments if you claim in time. Keep the letter safe and get help early. ([citizensadvice.org.uk](Link

For advice services and councils across Greater Manchester, Teesside and West Yorkshire, aligning deadlines to 1 April reduces confusion but concentrates workload into late March. Expect more ID checks and evidence‑gathering in a short window; staffing and triage will determine how smooth the finish is.

The new rules land on 29 January. For claimants: watch the post, read the date, and act. For advisers: prioritise anyone with failed ID checks or disability premiums so transitional protection isn’t lost at the finish. We’ll keep tracking the regional picture as the switch‑off approaches.