Martin Lewis' urgent warning to Brits that could have their benefits 'cut off' if they don't act swiftly

Martin Lewis has issued a stark warning about a series of letters sent out by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). He insisted that recipients should not ignore these crucial dispatches, cautioning that failure to adhere to the instructions could lead to a halt in their benefit payments.

In his BBC podcast, the Money-Saving Expert cautioned listeners during the closing segments: "An important one for anyone on tax credits, housing benefit, employment support allowance or similar; do not ignore a crucial letter that is coming, you may lose your benefits.

"The Department of Work and Pensions is sending letters to many people saying you must now apply to switch to Universal Credit from your current system. Do not ignore it."

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Those at risk are individuals currently receiving any of the six legacy benefits, which include Child Tax Credits, Working Tax Credits, Housing Benefits, Income-based Jobseekers Allowance, Income Support, and Income-related Employment and Support Allowance, reports the Express.

The correspondence sets out the critical steps claimants must take in the move over to Universal Credit. According to DWP figures, more than one-third of individuals transitioning have experienced an interruption in their payments as they move to Universal Credit.

The finance guru emphasised: "Do not ignore the letters. Some of those people may have been cut off because they're no longer eligible but it's likely that for many people this is just an administrative issue.

"Watch out for the letter from the DWP, make sure your address details are up to date, and then deal with it. You do not want to have your benefits cut."

Benefit recipients typically have a three-month period after receiving their notification to switch to Universal Credit, as indicated in the letter.

Should some claimants require additional time, they can be granted an extension to the deadline if they present a valid reason and request it before the initial deadline through the Universal Credit Migration Notice helpline.

Individuals who fail to meet this deadline will see their current legacy benefits terminated, but they have the option to apply for Universal Credit later on. However, they will miss out on the transitional protections available if they apply within the three-month window following receipt of their letter.

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