800,000 people to have benefits stopped in DWP Universal Credit shake-up

The exact date 800,000 people will have their benefits STOPPED in a Universal Credit shake-up has been revealed. Thousands are being 'migrated' to Universal Credit under the 'managed migration' process and it means people could see their payments halted.

The Department for Work and Pensions, or DWP, has now confirmed when those on income-related employment and support allowance (ESA) will contacted to move to Universal Credit. More households are set to move to Universal Credit earlier than planned.

Households and claimants must claim Universal Credit by December 2025 or risk having their benefits stopped after receiving letters from the DWP. Once you receive a letter, you have three months to move over, or you could lose your current benefits.

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A DWP spokesperson said: "Employment support allowance customers will move to Universal Credit from September this year, as announced by the Prime Minister. Many claimants will be better off on Universal Credit than legacy benefits and will get the support they need to find work."

The DWP is expecting to save £5 billion due to the high number of claimants who will fail to complete the forced migration from legacy benefits to the one-size-fits-all benefit. The affected claimant will be income-related ESA claimants and also ESA with housing benefit claimants.

Previously, migration of these groups was not scheduled to take place until 2028. The Local Authority Welfare Bulletin explained: “A new Move to UC communications campaign launched in March 2024 to help prepare claimants with other benefit combinations for their move to UC. The campaign is running nationally and is being delivered through radio, paid search (Google and Bing), outdoor advertising (bus stops and billboards), digital and social media advertising.

“The campaign aims to tackle claimant fear and anxiety about moving to Universal Credit, using the headline ‘Keep things smooth by making the move to Universal Credit’. Advertising also signposts to www.gov.uk/ucmove, which is a new website containing supportive information, real life case studies and advice on how to prepare for the move.”