People on 6 ‘legacy benefits’ are being told they have to migrate to Universal Credit (Image: PA)
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) is intensifying the roll-out of migration notices to those on income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA), including claimants with Housing Benefit. Roughly 60,000 migration notices per month will be issued to ESA recipients from February until the year’s end as part of the ‘s push to transfer more people into a modern benefits system designed to aid job-seeking and work re-entry – meaning 660.000 will go out by the end of the year.
The has highlighted the intention behind this move: “In addition, we are focusing on supporting those households who received a migration notice in 2024 and are yet to make the move, particularly before Tax Credits close on 5 April 2025.”
During October, the last wave of these notices was sent out, giving Tax Credit claimants until January to apply for Universal Credit before their existing benefits lapses. Claimants must apply swiftly to Universal Credit to avoid disruptions come April, as the switchover to the new system is not automatic.
To bolster this process, the has unveiled an additional £15 million in funding for the Help to Claim service. This service aims to support over 800,000 individuals moving from ESA to Universal Credit by March 2026, achieving this milestone two years earlier than originally planned.
A substantial increase in funding has been announced by Minister for Social Security and Disability, Sir Stephen Timms MP, to support individuals transitioning from legacy benefits to Universal Credit. According to the Daily Record, this financial boost will enhance the free and independent advice provided by Citizens Advice and Citizens Advice Scotland, which has already aided over one million people in applying for Universal Credit since the initiative’s inception in 2019.
Minister Timms underscored the importance of this support in ensuring that customers feel confident and informed throughout the application process. He stated: “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.”
Minister Timms urged recipients of migration notices to take swift action to ensure timely access to benefits, saying, “I want to encourage anyone receiving a migration notice over the coming months to act without delay to secure quick access to benefit entitlement.”
Additionally, he emphasized the broader scope of the reforms aimed at employment support, noting that the biggest reforms in a generation would facilitate more people receiving the support they need to join the workforce and advance their careers.
This will be achieved through a transformation of Jobcentres, addressing inactivity with local work, health, and skills plans, and introducing a Youth Guarantee. Citizens Advice’s Help to Claim service is offering a lifeline to new Universal Credit claimants, guiding them through the complexities of the system until they receive their first correct payment.
Dame Clare Moriarty, Chief Executive of Citizens Advice, praised the service’s impact: “Over the last five years our specially trained advisers have supported thousands of people across Britain to navigate the move from old benefits to Universal Credit.”
She added, “We make our service as accessible as possible, offering phone, chat and British Sign Language options, so we’re there for people as they move over. This funding boost is credit to the vital support our advisers provide and means we’ll be able to help even more people make their first application.”
The £240m from the Get Britain Working White Paper will also fund ‘trailblazers’ in local communities to reach out to those typically disengaged from the system and integrate work and skills support with health services, ensuring a holistic approach to helping individuals return to and stay in work.
Complete information regarding the transition from legacy benefits to Univ