Where do we currently stand?
We are now in the final and the most crucial stages of the migration process from legacy benefits to Universal Credit with Income Related Employment and Support Allowance (IR ESA) claimants (and claimants who claim IR ESA alongside Housing Benefit) having a deadline to receive a managed migration notice by December 2025.
The managed migration of around 800,000 remaining claimants of income-related Employment and Support Allowance (IR ESA) only, or incomed-related ESA and Housing Benefit, has been brought forward, having previously been delayed to 2028/29. The DWP began sending migration notices to these claimants in September 2024.
Managed migration involves claimants being sent a migration notice by the DWP in the post telling them that their legacy benefit awards will end and that they must make a claim for Universal Credit to continue to get support. The deadline for claiming must be at least three months from the date of the migration notice.
What are the risks?
Income-related Employment Support Allowance (ESA) supports individuals who are often vulnerable, with limited capability to work due to health conditions or disabilities. As a result, IR ESA recipients are much more likely to require assistance when transitioning to Universal Credit (UC). Since September, thousands of people have sought support from Citizens Advice on navigating the move from IR ESA to UC, highlighting the significant need for support during this process.
We have already seen significant issues with people struggling to navigate the managed migration process from other legacy benefits. 28% of Tax Credit ‘only’ claimants that were sent a Migration Notice, didn’t make a new claim for Universal Credit within the deadline. This resulted in claimants losing £300 a month on average, a significant amount which can have devasting effects on households already struggling with the “cost of living”.
Many IR ESA claimants will not be familiar with what managed migration means and the consequences of not making a new claim for Universal Credit within their set deadline (which could mean losing a significant amount of money per month and their transitional protection).
Also, many claimants are anxious about opening letters from the DWP or may not have the capacity to understand what they need to do next without specialist support. We have seen some claimants believing the migration notice to be a scam, a result of criminals already targeting vulnerable people in the past, by pretending to be from government departments.
Filing the necessary new claim for Universal Credit is a challenging process, particularly for those with long-term health conditions or disabilities. The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) expects most applicants to manage the largely digital application independently, which can be difficult for many. As a result, some struggle to complete the process or upload the required documentation, leading to further delays. Given that the initial wait for a Universal Credit payment is already a minimum of five weeks, these obstacles only extend the financial strain on those in need.
What support is available to people on Income Related ESA with the migration process
We would recommend getting support from the person’s local Citizens Advice as soon as possible. If you think anybody will struggle with the migration process for whatever reason, having a benefit adviser support the person through the process can save the person losing a significant amount of money every month which would undoubtedly put the person in severe financial hardship.
If the person needs support with the Universal Credit application itself, there is the specialist “Help to Claim Service” which can support the person from their initial Universal Credit application through to their first payment.
Are you or your organisation in need of expert guidance on the migration process to Universal Credit?
Do you support vulnerable clients who may be at risk of losing their benefits? Join our brand-new, interactive 3-hour Managed Migration workshop, where we’ll cover:
✅ The current state of migration – Where do we stand in the transition from legacy benefits to Universal Credit, and what does the process involve?
✅ Understanding the three types of migration – What are they, and how do they affect claimants?
✅ Migration notices – What they mean, what actions are required, and how to respond effectively.
✅ Supporting vulnerable clients – How to navigate the process to ensure benefit payments continue without disruption.
✅ Transitional protection – Understanding how it works and how benefit payments may erode over time.
✅ Maximising and safeguarding benefit entitlements – Key strategies to protect your clients’ financial well-being and avoid common pitfalls.
✅ Live Q&A with welfare benefits experts – Get your questions answered by specialists in the field.
To find out more check out our website.
