Couples where one person is State Pension age, currently 66 for both men and women, and who have received a Migration Notice letter, are required to claim Universal Credit by the deadline stated in their letter to continue receiving financial support. This applies to those known as 'mixed age' couples.
Benefits such as Tax credits, Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA), and Income Support have already ended and been replaced by Universal Credit. Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) and Housing Benefit are also ending soon, though Housing Benefit has certain exceptions.
If a mixed-age couple does not claim Universal Credit, their existing benefits will end. Transitional protection, which can provide a top-up payment if the Universal Credit amount is less than previous benefits, is automatically applied if a claim is made by the deadline after receiving a Migration Notice.
Individuals moving from ESA to Universal Credit without a break, who have already completed a Work Capability Assessment (WCA) and were in the 'support group' or 'work-related activity' group, may not need to provide new medical evidence or have another WCA immediately.