Benefits Changes
Image by Frantisek_Krejci at Pixabay
Chances are that if you have had to rely upon state benefits, you will have heard of ‘managed migration’. In case you haven’t, it’s part of the DWP’s process of transferring people from the older ‘legacy’ benefits to universal credit.
Six of these older benefits will be scrapped in 2024, affecting millions of people.
The process began several years ago but stalled during the pandemic, restarting in 2023. You may be one of the people who has just received a letter advising you to start a universal credit claim.
Six benefits are being affected:
Child and working tax credit
Income-based jobseeker’s allowance
Income support
Income-related employment
Support allowance
Housing benefit
You should note that some exceptions apply. If you claim employment and support allowance (ESA) only, or ESA and a separate legacy benefit (not including tax credits), you will ‘migrate’ in 2028; you should be contacted over the next few months by the DWP.
In normal circumstances you will receive a letter from the DWP explaining that you have three months to claim universal credit. You will be expected to provide proof of identity and agree to a managed migration claim at a Jobcentre. Failing to claim within this period of time will result in the legacy payments being stopped.
Let’s hope that all goes smoothly.
