Thousands of Brits claiming certain legacy benefits from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) will receive letters next month telling them to move to Universal Credit or lose their benefits entirely.
This is part of the “managed migration” from a series of legacy benefits to the one-for-all Universal Credit system, which has been brought forward by four years for Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) claimants. In February, the DWP will be sending 63,000 letters to these claimants giving them three months to make the switch – which is almost double the typical number being sent out.
By the end of this year, all ESA claimants will have been told to move over to Universal Credit, with the final ESA claims ending in March 2026, when all payments will stop. Once you have received a correspondence from the DWP, it is important to claim before the three-month deadline as it can entitle you to transitional protection, which makes sure your benefits do not go down as a result of the change.
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The latest group of income-related ESA claimants receiving migration notices has been described by the advocacy forum Benefits and Work as “some of the most vulnerable ESA claimants, who may not have had contact with the DWP for years, will now begin to be caught in the DWP dragnet.” This means it is important for them to make this claim and not fall out of the benefits system.
Income-related ESA is a benefit for people with limited capability to work because of health conditions or a disability. Because of this, people receiving ESA are more likely to need support to make a new claim for UC.
Anyone with complex needs, which can range from issues using to technology to physical and mental health conditions, is able to ask for extra time to make their claim for Universal Credit, thought this has to be asked for ahead of the deadline. Once the DWP has been notified of the extra assistance needed, claimants will be given a “complex case” coach to help them with their claim.
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This will also include ESA claimants the DWP have not been able to make contact with, those who have been contacted but not made a claim, and those with additional barriers such as complex needs. Anyone who is unsure how to make a claim or needs help doing so can use Citizens Advice’s handy Help to Claim service, where someone will talk you through it.
Minister for Social Security and Disability, Sir Stephen Timms MP, spoke about the ESA migration at the end of last year, saying: “This funding boost will support many people as they make the move from old benefits to Universal Credit – ensuring customers feel confident and informed throughout the application process.
“I want to encourage anyone receiving a migration notice over the coming months to act without delay to secure quick access to benefit entitlement.
“The biggest reforms to employment support for a generation will also ensure more people get the help they need to get into work and on at work, by overhauling jobcentres, tackling inactivity with local work, health and skills plans, and delivering a Youth Guarantee.”
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