DWP to change or stop 440,000 claims by September under benefit shakeup plans

12 March 2024 , 12:54

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The DWP are moving legacy benefit claimants onto Universal Credit (Image: Getty Images/iStockphoto)

Around 440,000 benefit claimants will have their benefits changed or stopped by September this year.

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) is currently working to move those claiming legacy benefits - such as Tax Credits, Jobseekers Allowance, and Income support - onto Universal Credit. The transfer process, known as managed migration, has been ongoing for a few years with the DWP expecting to have everyone moved over by 2028.

In November 2023, there were 5.3million Universal Credit claims in the UK, and around 1.6milion legacy benefit claims. The DWP are moving people over gradually and in the 2023/24 tax year, it sent out 500,000 "migration notices" to households who were only claiming Tax Credits.

According to a recent update on the process, in 2024/25, the DWP will contact the remaining Tax Credit claimants - those also receiving other legacy benefits - and all claimants of Income Support, income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA), and Housing Benefit. The DWP aims to send around 440,000 migration notices to these households by September 2024.

The managed migration of those claiming income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) only, or incomed-related ESA and Housing Benefit, has been delayed until 2028 and involves around 600,000 households.

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As the DWP is conducting its move to Universal Credit in stages, when it is your turn you will receive a migration notice in the post. If you receive a managed migration notice, you will have three months to put in a claim for Universal Credit. If you don't, then your benefit payments will stop.

You can put in your claim online, or over the phone by calling the Universal Credit Migration Notice helpline on 0800 169 0328, or you can also ask your local Job Centre. Once you have made your claim, you will have to wait five weeks until your first Universal Credit payment and you will continue to receive it going forward - unless your circumstances change.

If you claim Tax Credits your entitlement will end as soon as you claim Universal Credit. The DWP says the majority of people will be better off on Universal Credit however some people could be worse off - around 300,000 benefit claimants will see no change.

Ruby Flanagan