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Managed move of claimants to Universal Credit set to restart
Created: 06/05/2022The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) is resuming the programme to move all benefit claimants over to Universal Credit by 2024. This follows a pause to the process during the pandemic when staff were focused on supporting the surge of new claimants to Universal Credit.
A policy paper on completing the move to Universal Credit has also been published.
From May, DWP will start to write to customers on legacy benefits to let them know that they will move across to Universal Credit and explain how the process will work. The letters to customers are called ‘Migration Notices’ and will let customers know that their legacy benefits are ending, and that they have three months to make their Universal Credit claim. To make sure our customers are fully supported, initial volumes of customers moving through the process will be small and controlled, initially five hundred.
Everyone moving over from legacy benefits will have their entitlement to Universal Credit assessed against their current claims, with top up payments ("transitional protection") provided for eligible claimants whose entitlement would have been reduced because of the change – ensuring they receive the same entitlement as on a legacy system. These will continue unless their circumstances alter.
A dedicated helpline – signposted on the notice claimants receive – will provide support for people to make their Universal Credit claim, and guidance will also be available online including on the Understanding Universal Credit website. Those in need of further support can also visit their local jobcentre.
Additional support remains available for those in need, including the Household Support Fund and Discretionary Housing Payments.