Major DWP update with 400,000 urged to look for letters ahead of HUGE benefit axe
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HUNDREDS of thousands of households currently receiving a benefit, which is soon to be axed, are being urged to keep an eye out for important letters.
The warning comes as the government progresses with its plans to transfer all legacy benefit claimants onto Universal Credit, through a process referred to as "managed migration."
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The DWP is now ramping up the number of migration notices sent each month to 83,000, The Sun can reveal
Credit: Alamy
The managed migration process officially began back in July 2022 after a successful pilot in July 2019.
Since then, households receiving one of five legacy benefits, have been receiving postal notifications outlining the steps required to transition to Universal Credit.
Upon receiving a migration letter, claimants are given up to three months to make the switch.
Failure to act within this timeframe could result in the loss of existing benefits.
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has already closed new claims for four legacy benefits - tax credits, income support, income-based jobseeker's allowance, and housing benefit.
Households still receiving income-related employment and support allowance (ESA) are now being urged to make the move to Universal Credit.
ESA provides financial support for those unable to work due to illness or disability.
Initially, the government planned to transfer all ESA claimants to Universal Credit by the end of 2028.
However, this deadline has since been brought forward to March 2026.
However, this deadline was brought forward to March 2026.
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To date, 200,000 claimants have successfully transitioned to Universal Credit, leaving approximately 400,000 still to make the switch.
However, the DWP is now ramping up the number of migration notices sent each month to 83,000, The Sun can reveal.
This stepped-up approach means the DWP aims to have contacted all remaining legacy ESA claimants by September 2025
The move is designed to provide households with sufficient time to successfully transition to Universal Credit before the March 2026 deadline.
A WORD OF WARNING
Between July 2022 and December 2024, the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) sent almost 1.6million migration notices.
However, according to the DWP's latest figures, 355,940 individuals lost their benefits after failing to act on migration notices received between the period.
That's why it's vital to act on your migration notice before the deadline stated in your letter.
Some 1.1million individuals have since made successful claims for Universal Credit, and another 174,576 are still in the process of transitioning, the latest figures show.
Which benefits are stopping?
UNIVERSAL Credit is replacing six benefits under the old welfare system, commonly called legacy benefits. They are: Working tax credit
Child tax credit
Income-based jobseeker's allowance
Income support
income-related employment and support allowance
Housing benefit
If you're on any of these benefits now, you can choose to move over - but you might not be better off.
You should consider carefully what moving over means for your money, as you can't move back once you're on Universal Credit.
Using an online benefits calculator, which is free and easy to use from charities such as Turn2Us and EntitledTo, can help you compare.
You may be moved to Universal Credit if your circumstances change, such as moving home, changing your working hours, or having a baby.
But eventually, everyone will be moved over to Universal Credit under the managed migration process.
HELP CLAIMING UNIVERSAL CREDIT
As well as benefit calculators, anyone moving from Tax Credits to Universal Credit can find help in a number of ways.
You can visit your local Jobcentre by searching at find-your-nearest-jobcentre.dwp.gov.uk/.
There's also a free service called Help to Claim from Citizen's Advice:
England: 0800 144 8 444
Scotland: 0800 023 2581
Wales: 08000 241 220
You can also get help online from advisers at citizensadvice.org.uk/about-us/contact-us/contact-us/help-to-claim/.
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