The DWP is sending letters to some benefit claimants with jsut a few months left to switch to Universal Credit or lose payments
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) is gearing up to completely overhaul two benefits this year, replacing them with Universal Credit. The government body has been sending out letters to those on legacy benefits, setting a deadline to switch to Universal Credit or risk losing all their payments.
Income Support and Jobseeker’s Allowance are reportedly on the chopping block, set to be fully phased out by April 1, 2026. Despite the DWP previously stating it didn’t expect anyone to still be claiming these benefits come April, a report from the Independent revealed that as many as 80,000 were still on the books last February.
Minister for Social Security and Disability, Sir Stephen Timms, stressed that those receiving a migration notice to Universal Credit should not ‘ignore it’. DWP guidance highlights that such Migration Notice letters will include a deadline for when the claimant must apply for Universal Credit, or they’ll stop getting financial support.
How much legacy benefit claimants will get from Universal Credit
According to DWP guidance, those making the switch to Universal Credit will typically get the same amount they received from their previous benefits, and potentially even more. You’ll get the standard Universal Credit allowance, plus any additional amounts that apply.
The current monthly Universal Credit allowance is:.
- Single and under 25 – £316.98
- Single and 25 or over – £400.14
- Live with a partner and both under 25 – £497.55 (for both)
- Live with a partner and one or both are 25 or over – £628.10 (for both)
You may receive extra depending on your circumstances. Full details of this can be found here.
If you miss your migration deadline
Should you fail to submit a Universal Credit claim by the deadline specified in the Migration Notice letter, you can still apply for the benefit online. However, you won’t qualify for transitional protection top-up payments, which supplement Universal Credit if your legacy benefit was higher than Universal Credit.
If you’re unsure whether you would benefit more from transitional protection, you can use the Policy in Practice better off calculator here. Do keep in mind, though, that the calculations will not consider any deductions that might be made from your Universal Credit amount.
How to apply for Universal Credit
You can apply for Universal Credit online. You’ll need to set up a Universal Credit account and must complete your claim within 28 days of creating said account.
To apply, you’ll need information including:
- Your bank, building society, or credit union account details
- An email address
- Access to a phone
You may also need to verify your identity with various documents. This could include:
- Passport
- Debit or credit card
- Passport
- Driving licence
- Payslip or P60
Further details on how to make a claim for Universal Credit can be found on GOV.UK here.
