DWP legacy benefits ending and Universal Credit managed migration, Digi Mart USA News (United Kingdom): The Department for Work and Pensions has confirmed that two benefits are ending “soon” as part of Managed Migration, the new system that moves claimants onto Universal Credit. The DWP has published guidance on its website explaining how to move to Universal Credit if a claimant is sent a Migration Notice.
Tax credits, income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA) and Income Support have already ended and been replaced by Universal Credit. The following benefits are also ending soon: Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) and Housing Benefit, unless the claimant is in supported or temporary accommodation.
Other benefits, such as Personal Independence Payment (PIP), will stay the same. Benefits will end even if a person decides not to claim Universal Credit.
Universal Credit has been available in all parts of the UK since December 2018, for people making new claims, for those whose circumstances change (“natural migration”), and for those who choose to move from legacy benefits (“voluntary migration”). Eventually, all remaining legacy benefit claimants will be contacted by the DWP and told they must claim Universal Credit to continue receiving means-tested support.
When this stage is complete, legacy benefits and tax credits for working-age people will cease to exist, and the full “caseload rollout” of Universal Credit will be achieved. Under managed migration, claimants receive a migration notice telling them their legacy benefit awards will end and that they must claim Universal Credit to continue receiving support.
The deadline for claiming must be at least three months from the date of the migration notice and can be extended if there is a good reason. The DWP then sends reminder letters, and claimants can get support from the migration notice helpline, online guidance and the Help to Claim service.
If a person has not claimed Universal Credit by their deadline but does so within one month, they are treated as having claimed on time and can still receive transitional protection in their Universal Credit award.
