DWP warns up to 800,000 benefit claimants their payments could be stopped before Christmas

Hundreds of thousands of benefit claimants have been warned their payments could be stopped just before Christmas if they don't take important action
-Credit: (Image: PA)


Hundreds of thousands of benefit claimants have been warned their payments could be stopped before Christmas. The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) is sending out migration notices to people on income-related Employment Support Allowance (ESA).

ESA is one of a number of legacy benefits being scrapped and replaced with Universal Credit. When someone receives a notice, it means they have three months to apply for UC.

If they don't apply within that time their benefits will be stopped. That means claimants would stop receiving their cash in December, just before Christmas, a busy and expensive time for all families, reports BirminghamLive.

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Around 800,000 people who get ESA are being sent letters. These are people who need support for medical reasons. Others who get income-based Jobseeker's Allowance are also being sent notices and need to act within three months.

Benefit claimants are being reminded the process of moving to Universal Credit will not happen automatically. However, the DWP has faced criticism over the "confusing" process after tens of thousands of people dropped off the benefits list because they missed the three-month window.

It's important people on ESA and JSA carefully check their post to ensure they have not missed the letter from the DWP, and to be aware that the notice may be on the way. People have been told they don't need to do anything until they receive their migration notice.

The Government says: "Move to Universal Credit if you get a migration notice letter. As one or more of your benefits will be ending soon, you need to move to Universal Credit.

"To continue receiving financial support you must claim Universal Credit by the deadline date given in your letter. This is three months from the date the letter was sent out."