The Government has announced when six benefits will end as the move to Universal Credit is completed.
Universal Credit is gradually replacing six legacy benefits with people on the old benefits being invited to get in their application so they will continue to get their payments.
Letters known as migration notices are being sent out in stages urging people to get in their application, as once you have received the letter, you need to apply within a certain time period after which your payments will stop.
Social security minister Sir Stephen Timms issued a statement in Parliament about the project, saying that since 2022, some 943,000 households have been notified of the need to move over to the new benefit.
The remaining group that needs to be notified and moved over are those on income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA).
Mr Timms said: “DWP will steadily increase the number of migration notices being sent to people receiving ESA over the next months and are aiming to issue 63,000 migration notices each month from February, sending the final notices in early December 2025 and fully moving people to Universal Credit and closing legacy benefits by the end of March 2026.”
He also announced that ministers hope to “formally close” the Move to Universal Credit programme by the end of March 2025.
These are the six benefits being replaced by Universal Credit:
- Income-based Jobseekers Allowance
- Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
- Income Support
- Housing Benefit
- Child Tax Credit
- Working Tax Credit
Mr Timms explained some of the benefits of moving to Universal Credit, stating: “Universal Credit provides greater support and incentives to get people into work and increase the hours they work than the benefits it replaces.”
Concerns have been raised recently about new powers being granted to DWP investigators to view details of claimants’ bank accounts where they are suspected of benefit fraud.
The new measures will come in as part of Labour’s Fraud, Error and Debt Bill, with officials also being allowed to raid properties and seize assets in cases of organised criminals taking advantage of the system.
Financial advisor Yiannis Zourmpanos, senior contributor at Bountii, said: “The idea that the Government can peer into your bank account feels invasive, and I understand why. From a financial perspective, this kind of oversight raises ethical issues.
“But remember, it’s also a balancing act. The DWP is trying to ensure that public funds are being properly allocated, and they’re arguing that the level of fraud demands a tougher stance.”
