Overview

• Income-related ESA, Income Support, income-based JSA and most Housing Benefit will stop by March 2026 as claimants move to Universal Credit.
• The DWP is issuing Migration Notice letters instructing people to claim Universal Credit by the deadline stated in their notice.
• Transitional protection top-ups are applied automatically if a notified claimant moves to Universal Credit on time and would otherwise receive less.
• Those who miss their deadline will see legacy payments end and will not be eligible for transitional protection if they claim later under normal rules.
• Working Tax Credit and Child Tax Credit have already ended, and further Universal Credit-related changes are planned from April next year.