DWP says people on four benefits are getting letters on major change in October 2024

People claiming tax credits, JSA, ESA and housing benefit face having payments stopped unless they respond

People claiming four benefits are to get letters through their doors in the next three months telling them they need to take action. The Department for Work and Pensions has issued a warning to specific recipients who are next being targeted in a big switch over which will see hundreds of thousands migrated to Universal Credit.

And if those who get the letter through their front door fail to take action, they will have their benefits cut off. This month letters are going out to those on Tax credits (if you are of State Pension age and are asked to move to Universal Credit), Income-based Jobseekers Allowance (JSA), Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) and Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) with Housing Benefit.

The DWP has said that tax credits will be closing ‘for good’ in April 2024 and if people don’t respond within three months to the migration notice they’ll get in the post they won’t get benefits any more. Those affected have three months from the date on their migration notice to apply for Universal Credit.

Officials say peoples do not need to take action until they receive their migration notice letter from the Department from Work and Pensions. Legacy benefits – such as Tax Credits, Housing Benefit, Income Support, Jobseeker’s Allowance and Income-Related Employment and Support Allowance – are being phased out to bring government financial support into one place and, importantly, the majority of people will not be worse off under Universal Credit.

Sir Stephen Timms, Minister for Social Security and Disability, said: “Having three months to make a move may feel like a long time but life can often distract you elsewhere. For the best chance to secure your benefit entitlement don’t delay with responding to your migration notice.

“We are committed to ensuring a smooth transition and customers will have the full support of DWP staff to help manage this change.”

Most claimants were expected to have received Migration Notice letters by the end of September, giving them three months to make the transition, with those contacted in September needing to do so by Christmas. The DWP aims to complete the changeover by December 2025 at the latest, allowing for the legacy benefits system to be phased out.

However, the Child Poverty Action Group has expressed concerns that proceeding with the 'managed migration' to Universal Credit at the current pace is "dangerous" and may result in some individuals "falling through the cracks in large numbers in 2024/2025."

In a report published earlier this year, the group stated: "Many people will transition to UC without the need for assistance. But managed migration is about to ex."

"The stakes are much higher for these claimants as benefits will be their primary, often sole, source of income. Those who do not successfully move to UC may find themselves without any financial support at all at risk of destitution or threatened with homelessness.

"While many will eventually manage to make a claim for UC, they will have lost their entitlement to transitional protection and had to cope without benefit income in the interim, facing mounting debts or rent arrears. Most concerningly, some claimants may fall out of the social security system altogether. Situations like this could be avoided but, as things stand, the most vulnerable claimants are at the greatest risk in the face of the DWP's plans for a sprint finish."

The DWP stated: "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. If you cannot claim Universal Credit by the deadline date, you should contact the Universal Credit Migration Notice helpline as soon as possible. You may be able to get more time to make a claim if you have a good reason. You must request this before your deadline date."

The Universal Credit Migration Notice helpline can be reached on 0800 169 0328 from 8am to 6pm, Monday to Friday. Calls to 0800 phone numbers are free from both mobiles and landlines.