Thousands of claimants need to make a change
The DWP has provided an update about a payment change affecting thousands of benefit claimants. The Government was asked by Conservative MP and Shadow Chancellor, Mel Stride, for an update about the move to Universal Credit. The benefit is replacing six previous benefits.
These include income-based Jobseekers Allowance, income-related Employment and Support Allowance, Income Support, Housing Benefit, Child Tax Credit and Working Tax Credit. The focus is now on moving over to the new benefit those on Employment and Support Allowance only, and those on Employment and Support Allowance and Housing Benefit.
If you need to move over to Universal Credit, you will be sent a letter in the post called a migration notice. This will give you three months in which to put in your claim for Universal Credit, after which your previous benefit payments will stop. In cases of more vulnerable claimants, the DWP provides further support, known as the enhanced support journey, to help people move over.
This can involve making phone calls to the claimant or even arranging home visits, to help a person move over. Mr Stride asked the Government how many people had been moved over from Employment and Support Allowance to Universal Credit since July 2024.
DWP minister Sir Stephen Timms provided a response from the Government, providing a key date. He said: “This information will be published as part of a routinely released statistical series in February 2026.”
Millions move over to Universal Credit
DWP figures released in November 2025 showed migration notice letters were sent to some 2.3 million individual claimants between July 2022 and September 2025. Of these individual claimants, some 1.8 million people put in a claim for Universal Credit.
The document explains: “Legacy benefit customers receiving a migration notice are given a period of three months within which to claim. They may also be sent one or more reminders and the claim deadline may be extended.”
Of all households sent a migration notice up to the end of May 2025, 85 percent put in a claim for the new benefit, while 15 percent did not make a claim and so their legacy benefits were ended.
How much is Universal Credit?
The monthly standard allowance for Universal Credit is currently:
- Single and under 25 – £316.98
- Single and 25 or over – £400.14
- If you live with your partner and you’re both under 25 – £497.55 (for you both)
- If you live with your partner and either of you are 25 or over – £628.10 (for you both).
You can get additional amounts depending on your situation, such as if you have a health condition or disability, or if you have children.
