DWP benefit warning issued as thousands must act or risk huge change to payments

Campaigners have slammed the DWP's managed migration process describing it as "dangerous" saying the switch is happening too fast for vulnerable benefit claimants

A warning has been issued to benefits claimants about a major change to their payments - with thousands at risk of "falling through the cracks".

The Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) is currently telling people who are currently claiming income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) with Tax Credits, to claim Universal Credit instead. It is part of the benefits department's Managed Migration scheme which is working to move everyone on older "legacy" benefits onto Universal Credit. According to official figures, around 900,000 people are claiming ESA with Tax Credits with the DWP having sent them letters about the move earlier this year.

Another 800,000 people claiming income-related ESA on its own or with Housing Benefit have started to get letters this month, along with 20,000 people on income-based Jobseeker's Allowance. Most are expected to have received the Migration Notice letters by the end of September. The letters are called "Migration Notices" and once you receive you will need to put in a claim for Universal Credit within three months - if you don't you could see your benefit payments stopped.

Campaigners have slammed the process calling it "dangerous" and said the switch is happening too fast. The Child Poverty Action Group stressed that such actions could potentially cause "homelessness" as it could put households under immense financial strain as they move over.

In a report published earlier this year, the group said: "Many people will transition to Universal Credit without the need for assistance. But managed migration is about to expand to DWP legacy benefit claimants – a much more vulnerable cohort – and a process that works for ‘most’ people will not be sufficient.

"The stakes are much higher for these claimants as benefits will be their primary, often sole, source of income. Those who do not successfully move to Universal Credit may find themselves without any financial support at all – at risk of destitution or threatened with homelessness.

"While many will eventually manage to make a claim for UC, they will have lost their entitlement to transitional protection and had to cope without benefit income in the interim, facing mounting debts or rent arrears. Most concerningly, some claimants may fall out of the social security system altogether. Situations like this could be avoided but, as things stand, the most vulnerable claimants are at the greatest risk in the face of the DWP's plans for a sprint finish."

On the DWP's website, it said: "To continue receiving financial support you must claim Universal Credit by the deadline date given in your letter. This is three months from the date the letter was sent out. If you cannot claim Universal Credit by the deadline date, you should contact the Universal Credit Migration Notice helpline as soon as possible. You may be able to get more time to make a claim if you have a good reason. You must request this before your deadline date."

The Universal Credit Migration Notice helpline is available on 0800 169 0328 from 8am to 6pm, Monday to Friday. 0800 phone numbers are free to call from mobiles and landlines.