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Changes in Circumstances: Impact on Transitional Protection
Impact on Transitional Protection
Some claimants may have been entitled to Transitional Protection when they moved from the legacy benefit system onto UC.

They may have been entitled to:
  • A Transitional Element (if they would otherwise had been worse off when they moved onto UC)
  • A Transitional Capital Disregard (if they moved onto UC through the managed migration process, were previously on Tax Credits and had over £16,000 in savings at the point of the move).
  • Student Protection (if they moved onto UC through the managed migration process, and were a full-time student that would not normally be entitled to UC at the point of the move).

Certain changes in circumstance can cause this protection to be lost altogether, or could mean the erosion of the Transitional Element.

So when advising a UC claimant about any change in their circumstances, it is important to find out if their UC award includes a Transitional Element (this will be shown in their latest payment statement) or if they are entitled to a Transitional Capital Disregard or Student Protection and consider what impact, if any, that change would have on this.


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Some claimants may have been entitled to a Transitional Element when they moved from the legacy benefit system onto UC.

Certain changes in circumstance can cause this Element to be lost altogether, or could mean the amount of the Transitional Element reduces.

This means that when a claimant has a change in circumstances, then they may not see the increase in their UC award they are expecting / need.

Erosion occurs when a new Element is awarded or there is an increase in an Element (apart from the Childcare Costs Element).

Loss occurs after certain changes in the claimant's situation, or when the new/increased Element is high enough to wipe out the Transitional Element amount altogether.

Once lost/eroded, the Transitional Element cannot be put back.

So when advising a UC claimant about any change in their circumstances, it is important to find out if their UC award includes a Transitional Element (this will be shown in their latest payment statement).

Do all UC claimants have a Transitional Element?

No. Only those who have been manage migrated onto UC and who were worse off at the point of moving, and some who have naturally migrated onto UC whose IR-ESA, IS or IB-JSA award included a Severe Disability Premium.


Some claimants may have been entitled to a Transitional Capital Disregard when they moved from the legacy benefit system onto UC.

So if a claimant is on UC and has savings / capital over £16,000, they will be entitled to the Transitional Capital Disregard.

Certain changes in circumstance can cause this Disregard to be lost altogether,


Some claimants may have been entitled to Protection when they moved from the legacy benefit system onto UC through Managed Migration (if they were a full-time student that would not normally be entitled to UC at the point of the move)..

Certain changes in circumstance can cause this Protection to be lost altogether.