Overview

• The DWP has sent 2,108,000 migration notices, with 1,605,629 people already claiming Universal Credit and 162,108 cases still in progress.
• Claimants have three months to respond to migration letters before legacy payments stop, with a further month in which any late claim can be backdated.
• The department is increasing letters to about 83,000 a month to reach income-related ESA groups, targeting full contact by September 2025 and notifications for ESA-only or ESA with Housing Benefit by December 2025.
• Government analysis indicates around 1.4 million will be better off after the switch, about 300,000 see no change and roughly 900,000 are worse off, with around 600,000 eligible for transitional top-ups.
• Among completed moves, 617,306 households have received transitional protection, and free Help to Claim support is available through Citizens Advice and Jobcentres.