HUNDREDS of thousands of people on legacy benefits are being urged to keep an eye out for key letters dropping through their letterboxes – or risk losing vital payments.
It’s all part of the government’s plan to move everyone on old-style benefits over to Universal Credit by 2026, under a process called “managed migration”.
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Those affected will get a migration notice through the post – and ignoring it could mean your current benefits get stopped altogether.
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has already started sending out the notices in waves, with a huge ramp-up in pace this year.
As The Sun first revealed around 83,000 letters are now being posted each month, aiming to reach all remaining claimants of income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) by September 2025.
So far, 200,000 ESA claimants have already made the switch, but a further 400,000 still need to move over – and fast.
READ MORE ON UNIVERSAL CREDIT
Act now or miss out
Once you get the letter, you’ll have up to three months to make a claim for Universal Credit. If you don’t act by the deadline stated, your existing payments will be cut off – and you won’t be able to go back.
And it’s not just ESA. The switch has affected anyone that was receiving:
- Working Tax Credit
- Child Tax Credit
- Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)
- Income Support
- Housing Benefit (unless you live in temporary or supported housing)
Households still receiving income-related employment and support allowance (ESA) are now being urged to make the move to Universal Credit.
ESA provides financial support for those unable to work due to illness or disability.
Initially, the government planned to transfer all ESA claimants to Universal Credit by the end of 2028.
However, this deadline has since been brought forward to March 2026.
Worried about money? Here’s help
It’s worth checking how much you might get before making the move. Using a free online benefits calculator – like the ones from EntitledTo or Turn2Us – can help you compare figures.
Once you’re on Universal Credit, you can’t switch back, so it’s crucial to do the maths.
There’s also help available if you’re unsure about the process. Citizens Advice offers a Help to Claim service that’s free and confidential:
- England: 0800 144 8 444
- Scotland: 0800 023 2581
- Wales: 08000 241 220
- Or visit your local Jobcentre if you prefer to speak to someone face to face.
The government says most people will get the same amount or more on Universal Credit thanks to a “transitional protection” top-up – but only if you move over after receiving a Migration Notice and by your deadline.
Claim before getting the letter, and you won’t qualify for that top-up.
If you or your partner is over State Pension age, the rules are slightly different. You may still be asked to claim Universal Credit, depending on your situation.
Will I be better off on Universal Credit?
ANALYSIS by James Flanders, The Sun’s Chief Consumer Reporter:
Around 1.4million people on legacy benefits will be better off after switching to Universal Credit, according to the government.
A further 300,000 would see no change in payments, while around 900,000 would be worse off under Universal Credit.
Of these, around 600,000 can get top-up payments (transitional protection) if they move under the managed migration process, so they don’t lose out on cash immediately.
The majority of those – around 400,000 – are claiming employment support allowance (ESA).
Around 100,000 are on tax credits, while fewer than 50,000 each on other legacy benefits are expected to be affected.
Those who move voluntarily and are worse off won’t get these top-up payments and could lose cash.
Those who miss the managed migration deadline and later make a claim may not get transitional protection.
The clock starts ticking on the three-month countdown from the date of the first letter, and reminders are sent via post and text message.
There is a one-month grace period after this, during which any claim to Universal Credit is backdated, and transitional protection can still be awarded.
Examples of those who may be entitled to less on Universal Credit include:
- Households getting ESA and the severe disability premium and enhanced disability premium
- Households with the lower disabled child addition on legacy benefits
- Self-employed households who are subject to the Minimum Income Floor after the 12-month grace period has ended
- In-work households that worked a specific number of hours (e.g. lone parent working 16 hours claiming working tax credits
- Households receiving tax credits with savings of more than £6,000 (and up to £16,000)
Either way, if these households don’t switch in the future, they risk missing out on any future benefit increase and seeing payments frozen.
It’s best to read the guidance carefully or speak to a benefits adviser before making a move.
Even if you don’t act now, your benefits will eventually end. But if you delay your Universal Credit claim until after the deadline in your letter, you’ll lose access to that top-up safety net – and might get less money.
Read to claim? Here’s what you’ll need to need
You can apply online, and you’ll need:
- Your bank details
- An email address
- Access to a phone
- Proof of identity (like a passport, driving licence or P60)
- You’ll also need details about your housing, earnings, savings, and any health conditions or childcare costs.
- If you’re moving from ESA, you might not need another Work Capability Assessment – but it depends on your individual case.
If you’ve received a migration notice, don’t ignore it.
Between July 2022 and December 2024, the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) sent almost 1.6million migration notices.
However, according to the DWP’s latest figures, 355,940 individuals lost their benefits after failing to act on migration notices received between the period.
That’s why it’s vital to act on your migration notice before the deadline stated in your letter.
Some 1.1million individuals have since made successful claims for Universal Credit, and another 174,576 are still in the process of transitioning, the latest figures show.
Universal Credit might feel like a big change, but missing your deadline could leave you without financial support. And once you’re moved over, there’s no going back.
To find out more about how Universal Credit works and what you could get, head to the official DWP site or speak to Citizens Advice.
In other related benefit news, pension savers have been pocketing thousands in tax refunds after being overcharged — and now fresh HMRC changes could stop millions more being stung.
Over 15,000 people got an average refund of £2,881 between January and March this year after being overtaxed when they dipped into their pension pots.
In total, £44million was handed back in just three months, according to new figures — with hopes the amount overpaid will fall thanks to recent rule tweaks.
HMRC rolled out a new system this month, aimed at stopping retirees from being wrongly whacked with a sky-high emergency tax bill when making a withdrawal.
Which benefits are stopping?
UNIVERSAL Credit is replacing six benefits under the old welfare system, commonly called legacy benefits. They are:
- Working tax credit
- Child tax credit
- Income-based jobseeker’s allowance
- Income support
- income-related employment and support allowance
- Housing benefit
If you’re on any of these benefits now, you can choose to move over – but you might not be better off.
You should consider carefully what moving over means for your money, as you can’t move back once you’re on Universal Credit.
Using an online benefits calculator, which is free and easy to use from charities such as Turn2Us and EntitledTo, can help you compare.
You may be moved to Universal Credit if your circumstances change, such as moving home, changing your working hours, or having a baby.
But eventually, everyone will be moved over to Universal Credit under the managed migration process.
