Martin Lewis says do not ignore DWP letter or payments could stop

Martin Lewis has warned millions on Department for Work and Pensions ( DWP ) benefits not to ignore a letter or their payments could STOP. Speaking on The Martin Lewis Money Show on ITV this week, he urged viewers that they could lose benefits.

The government is moving all two million people currently on legacy benefits to Universal Credit in a process known as managed migration. Martin said: "This is about the mandatory movement of people currently on Tax Credits - but they're accelerating it for others - onto Universal Credit."

On the show, Lewis Zarins-Brown, Money Buddies debt advice specialist, explained: "It was going to be the last cohort of people transfer on 2028/2029 - it's now going to be 2025/2026. So, anybody whose on this record that's going to get changed will get a letter, with three months to put in an application for Universal Credit.

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"If you do it within that three months it will protect your level of income. It won't drop, so long as your situation does not change, if it changes, it might drop a bit." Martin, the BBC regular, replied: "But, if you don't reply to that letter, then the new level of Universal Credit could be lower than your existing benefits, and it will drop.

"So there's a clarion call here - if you get that letter, respond straight away." The Budget documents added: "This move will bring more people into a modern benefit regime, continuing to ensure they are supported to look for and move into work.

"Around half of ESA claimants will receive more financial support on UC, while others will receive transitional protection to ensure nobody is worse off at the point at which they move over to UC." The government has confirmed it is speeding up the process by two years, aiming to complete the move by 2026.