DWP to end six benefits by 2026: What Claimants Need to Know
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People on certain benefits are being encouraged to take action if they want to keep receiving payments. The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) is continuing with the phasing out of older benefits for millions this year.
A few years ago, the DWP started transitioning individuals on specific benefits, known as legacy benefits, over to universal credit, which was launched in 2013. This process, known as managed migration, has been gradually implemented over several years, with individuals being informed that they would be transitioned and, in some cases, would need to make a universal credit claim, reports WalesOnline.
Full-scale managed migration began in April 2023, extending to different regions of Great Britain. The six legacy benefits being phased out include:
Child and working tax credit
Income-based jobseeker's allowance
Income support
Income-related employment
Support allowance
Housing benefit
Tax credit is the first of 2025's legacy benefit closures.
As per the DWP website, the benefit will cease in April 2025, meaning recipients must respond to their migration notices to continue receiving benefits.
Those affected have three months from the date on their migration notice to apply for universal credit.
Moreover, the planned transition of approximately 800,000 recipients of income-related employment and support allowance (ESA) alone, or income-related ESA in conjunction with housing benefit, has been expedited.
This had initially been postponed to 2028/29.
The DWP commenced issuing migration notices to these claimants in September 2024, with the goal of notifying all individuals in this group by December 2025.
The DWP intends to transfer all legacy benefit recipients to universal credit by March 2026, finalising the rollout and ceasing all legacy benefits by this date.
Here is the full timeline of managed migration:
April 2024: Migration notices were sent to households in receipt of Income Support, Income Support with Housing Benefit, and Tax Credits with Housing Benefit.
Migration notices were sent to households in receipt of Income Support, Income Support with Housing Benefit, and Tax Credits with Housing Benefit. June 2024: Migration notices were sent to households receiving Housing Benefit only.
Migration notices were sent to households receiving Housing Benefit only. July 2024: Migration notices were sent to households in receipt of Employment Support Allowance with Child Tax Credits.
Migration notices were sent to households in receipt of Employment Support Allowance with Child Tax Credits. August 2024: Tax Credit claimants who are over state pension age were invited to apply for either Universal Credit or Pension Credit.
Tax Credit claimants who are over state pension age were invited to apply for either Universal Credit or Pension Credit. September 2024: Migration notices began to be sent to claimants of income-based Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA), and those on income related Employment Support Allowance (ESA) without Child Tax Credits.
Migration notices began to be sent to claimants of income-based Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA), and those on income related Employment Support Allowance (ESA) without Child Tax Credits. December 2025: The DWP aims to notify all claimants of income-related ESA only, or income-related ESA and Housing Benefit, by this date, a group previously scheduled for migration in 2028/29.
The DWP aims to notify all claimants of income-related ESA only, or income-related ESA and Housing Benefit, by this date, a group previously scheduled for migration in 2028/29. March 2026: All legacy benefit claims are scheduled to be closed
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