More than 318,000 households have had their benefit payments stopped after failing to move to Universal Credit, according to new government figures from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).
The data reveals that between July 2022 and June 2024, hundreds of thousands of claimants lost their benefits by not responding to migration notices within the crucial three-month window.
Ayla Ozmen, director of policy and campaigns at Z2K said: “We’re concerned to see that more people have had vital benefit payments stopped as part of the government’s plan to move people on to Universal Credit.”
The warning comes as the DWP accelerates its programme to transition all claimants from legacy benefits by March 2026.
The DWP has announced a £15million funding boost to support the accelerated Move to Universal Credit programme.
The additional funding will help Citizens Advice and Citizens Advice Scotland continue their vital work supporting people transitioning from legacy benefits.
Dame Clare Moriarty, Chief Executive of Citizens Advice, said: “Over the last five years our specially trained advisers have supported thousands of people across Britain to navigate the move from old benefits to Universal Credit.
“We make our service as accessible as possible, offering phone, chat and British Sign Language options, so we’re there for people as they move over.”
The service has already supported over one million people making Universal Credit claims since 2019.
When claimants receive a migration notice from the DWP, they have three months to start claiming Universal Credit before their existing benefits are stopped.
Universal Credit is replacing six legacy benefits: Working Tax Credit, Child Tax Credit, Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance, Income Support, Income-related Employment and Support Allowance, and Housing Benefit.
The DWP has already sent almost 1.4 million migration notices since July 2022.
While 883,944 people have successfully claimed Universal Credit, another 166,594 are still in the process of transitioning.
The DWP estimates that 55 per cent of people will be better off on Universal Credit, while 35 per cent would be worse off. The remaining claimants will see no change.
The Government aims to significantly increase the pace of migration notices, with plans to issue 63,000 notices each month from February 2025.
Minister for Social Security and Disability, Sir Stephen Timms MP, said: “I want to encourage anyone receiving a migration notice over the coming months to act without delay to secure quick access to benefit entitlement.”
The final migration notices are set to be sent in early December 2025, with the programme closing by March 2026.
The accelerated timeline particularly affects those on income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA), with more than 800,000 people moving to Universal Credit earlier than the original 2028 target.
The DWP plans to formally close the Move to Universal Credit programme by the end of March 2025. Citizens Advice’s Help to Claims service offers trained advisers to support anyone making a new Universal Credit claim.
The advisers provide guidance on how Universal Credit works, expected payment amounts, evidence collection, and help with completing applications.
Those considering switching to Universal Credit before receiving a migration notice should carefully research their options, as it’s not possible to return to legacy benefits once moved.
However, those moved through the official “managed migration” process will receive monthly transition payments if they would be financially worse off.
Free benefit calculators are available to help claimants understand how the switch might affect them, though expert advice should always be sought before making any changes.
