Claimants who obtain a migration discover by the DWP should apply for Common Credit score inside the deadline or threat dropping funds.
Cash in hand 5 pound notice and cash (Picture: Getty)
As claimants are set to make the swap from legacy advantages to Common Credit score, the ultimate date has been pushed forward, amid efforts to assist a number of the “most weak”, the Division for Work and Pensions (DWP) stated.
The “managed migration” course of was initially set for the tip of March 2026, however has now been moved to the tip of summer season, giving ESA and housing profit claimants barely extra time to change.
The division ensures that profit claimants’ funds are stored through the shift to common credit score.
This included the closure of:
1. The working tax credit score
2. Little one tax credit score
3. Earnings-based job seekers allowance
4. Earnings-related employment
5. Assist allowance (ESA) together with earnings help and housing profit for working-age households
What this implies for you
Anybody who receives a migration discover should apply for Common Credit score, sometimes inside three months, to maintain receiving monetary help. Failing to take action might end in funds stopping.
Extra assist can also be out there, together with a devoted helpline and residential visits for individuals who want additional help.
The deadline for some claimants has now been prolonged, with social safety and incapacity minister, Sir Stephen Timms, stating the change is designed to help the “most weak” through the transition.
A 2024 report by the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) cautioned that any failure in transferring folks onto UC might trigger “real-world distress for 1000’s.” On the time, DWP estimated round 4 per cent of claimants wouldn’t make the swap.
Nonetheless, Timms added that the variety of folks on UC “has elevated,” significantly for these “with no requirement to search for work.”
To date, greater than 1.9 million folks have been moved onto UC, together with 135,000 folks beforehand on earnings help and income-related jobseeker’s allowance.
Division for work and pensions workplace (Picture: Getty)
Figures present 8.34 million folks had been claiming the profit in December 2025, up from 7.36 million a yr earlier. Many of the enhance got here from folks transferring off older advantages somewhat than new claims.
The Authorities has described UC as a profit that “higher displays at present’s labour market and opens up a variety of help to assist folks transfer nearer to, or into work”.
The federal government will introduce beforehand introduced welfare reforms in April, decreasing the well being factor of UC to sort out what ministers name “perverse incentives,” with anticipated financial savings of practically £1 billion.
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Plans to reform incapacity advantages had been scaled again final yr after opposition from Labour backbenchers. As an alternative, the Timms Evaluate is gathering views on Private Independence Fee (PIP), with any modifications delayed till after it concludes.
The overview is anticipated to report back to Work and Pensions Secretary Pat McFadden by autumn, with an interim replace due beforehand.
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