DWP issues update on whether PIP, Pension Credit and Carer's Allowance are being axed

The DWP has published a full list of the welfare payments being switched off - and there are six benefits in total that are being replaced by Universal Credit

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) is gradually phasing out certain older benefits in favour of Universal Credit, although not all welfare payments will be impacted. Over two million individuals are set to be moved to Universal Credit through a process termed "managed migration," with the DWP reaching out progressively.

As such, claimants won't all be shifted to Universal Credit simultaneously.

When it's time for you to make the switch, you'll receive a "migration notice" by post, which gives you a three-month window to transition to Universal Credit before your current benefits cease. The DWP aims to have notified all affected parties by December 2025.

But which benefits are being discontinued under "managed migration"?

The DWP has released an exhaustive list of the welfare payments that will be terminated. In total, six benefits are being substituted by Universal Credit, including Working Tax Credit, Child Tax Credit, Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA), Income Support, Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA), and Housing Benefit, reports the Mirror.

If you're claiming other benefits such as Pension Credit, Child Benefit, Personal Independence Payment, Carer's Allowance or Attendance Allowance, your payments will continue as usual. You won't be asked to switch to Universal Credit if you're only receiving new style benefits like New-style Employment and Support Allowance or New-style Jobseeker's Allowance.

However, if you're claiming Tax Credits and are of State Pension age, or part of a mixed aged couple where one is under and the other is above State Pension age, the DWP will ask you to apply for Universal Credit or Pension Credit. The DWP has also clarified that some people will still receive Housing Benefit.

This includes those of State Pension age, those living in temporary council-provided accommodation due to homelessness, or those in supported accommodation. If Housing Benefit is the only benefit you claim, you'll continue to receive it.

As for whether you'll be better off on Universal Credit, the DWP states that 1.4 million people (55%) will benefit, while 900,000 (35%) will be worse off. The remaining 300,000 claimants will see no change.

To get an idea of whether you'd be better off on Universal Credit, you can use one of these free benefit calculators: Policy in Practice calculator, entitled to calculator, or Turn2us calculator.

After using one of these calculators, it's always recommended to seek expert advice before switching to Universal Credit. Don't solely rely on the results from these calculators, in case you've entered any information incorrectly.

Experts can double-check your benefit entitlement and advise whether it's more beneficial for you to switch now or wait. You can typically apply for Universal Credit via the GOV.

UK website. As soon as you submit your Universal Credit claim, Working Tax Credit or Child Tax Credit will cease, but other benefits will continue for an additional two weeks.

If you're transitioned to Universal Credit through managed migration and find yourself worse off, you'll receive monthly transition payments to cover any financial shortfall. This transitional protection lasts until there's no difference between the amount awarded under Universal Credit and what you received previously under legacy benefits.