Warning as six DWP benefits to be scrapped in just one year
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) is continuing to phase out older benefits for millions this year - here's what you need to know
The changes are expected to affect millions of people
(Image: WalesOnline/Rob Browne )
People on certain benefits are being encouraged to take action if they wish to keep receiving payments. The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) is continuing with the phase-out of older benefits for millions this year.
A few years ago, the DWP started transitioning individuals on specific benefits, known as legacy benefits, over to universal credit, which was introduced in 2013. This process, known as managed migration, has been rolled out gradually over several years, with individuals being informed that they would be transitioned and, in some instances, would need to make a universal credit claim.
Full-scale managed migration began in April 2023, extending to various regions across Great Britain. For our free daily briefing on the biggest issues facing the nation, sign up to the Wales Matters newsletter here .
The six legacy benefits being phased out include:
Child and working tax credit
Income-based jobseeker's allowance
Income support
Income-related employment
Support allowance
Housing benefit
Tax credit is the first of 2025's legacy benefit closures. According to the DWP website, the benefit will end in April 2025, meaning recipients must respond to their migration notices to continue receiving benefits.
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Those affected have three months from the date on their migration notice to apply for universal credit.
Furthermore, the planned transition of approximately 800,000 recipients of income-related employment and support allowance (ESA) alone, or income-related ESA along with housing benefit, has been fast-tracked.
This had initially been delayed until 2028/29.
The DWP began sending out migration notices to these claimants in September 2024, aiming to inform all individuals in this group by December 2025.
The DWP plans to transition all legacy benefit recipients to universal credit by March 2026, thereby completing the rollout and ending all legacy benefits by this date.
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Here is the complete timeline of managed migration:
April 2024: Migration notices were sent to households in receipt of Income Support, Income Support with Housing Benefit, and Tax Credits with Housing Benefit.
Migration notices were sent to households in receipt of Income Support, Income Support with Housing Benefit, and Tax Credits with Housing Benefit. June 2024: Migration notices were sent to households receiving Housing Benefit only.
Migration notices were sent to households receiving Housing Benefit only. July 2024: Migration notices were sent to households in receipt of Employment Support Allowance with Child Tax Credits.
Migration notices were sent to households in receipt of Employment Support Allowance with Child Tax Credits. August 2024: Tax Credit claimants who are over state pension age were invited to apply for either Universal Credit or Pension Credit.
Tax Credit claimants who are over state pension age were invited to apply for either Universal Credit or Pension Credit. September 2024: Migration notices began to be sent to claimants of income-based Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA), and those on income related Employment Support Allowance (ESA) without Child Tax Credits.
Migration notices began to be sent to claimants of income-based Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA), and those on income related Employment Support Allowance (ESA) without Child Tax Credits. December 2025: The DWP aims to notify all claimants of income-related ESA only, or income-related ESA and Housing Benefit, by this date, a group previously scheduled for migration in 2028/29.
The DWP aims to notify all claimants of income-related ESA only, or income-related ESA and Housing Benefit, by this date, a group previously scheduled for migration in 2028/29. March 2026: All legacy benefit claims are scheduled to be closed
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