Didn't get three months to switch from ESA and HB to UC.

Hi,

I received a remainder for claiming UC a couple weeks ago, advising that I must claim by 21 November 'if I want to continue receiving financial help'.

The letter says that I was sent a migration notice letter in august 2024, but I am absolutely certain that I have never received it. Further, the remainder letter is dated a month earlier than when I received it (it was sent me by the DWP through the email because I got hyperacusis with a tinnitus onset, so there's no way any letters got lost in the post.).

This means I received the final letter a month later as it's dated 25 September. So I barely get three weeks to do the switch.

I am still reading as much info as possible, including your very helpful guides, of course. I seem to understand that the claimant must be given 3 months before the switch is made, but in my case it feels unfair as I have nothing to gain by switching from ESA and HB to UC. I’d rather do it as late as possible, even if I’d might be better off. As the proverb goes, ‘don’t fix what isn’t broken’. I am not looking for more money as I am very thrifty (though not ungenerous) and buy only what is necessary or useful. I know that money I get didn’t grow on trees, plus I don’t ‘go out’, live alone, etc and generally avoid people as I find them more trouble than worth it and it affects my chronic fatigue, because people expect you to keep up with them, etc etc etc.

I am unsure as to whether to send a complaint or to claim UC by the deadline, or if I should do both, which seems the best thing to do.

Any thoughts or recommendations? Thank you and be well.

Hi, I am still wrapping my head about all this, however here's what the - only - letter I received about UC, says:

''25 September 2025
Reminder to claim Universal Credit
You need to claim Universal Credit by 21 November 2025
Dear X
Universal Credit Migration Notice Reminder
On 7 August 2025 we sent you a Migration Notice letter. It said you will
soon stop getting the following benefits:
• income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
You must make a Universal Credit claim by 21 November 2025 to keep
receiving financial support.''.

So as I understand it, it's a remainder of another letter that I have never received, and if I don't claim by 21 November, the benefits will stop, since I won't 'keep' them anymore.

But I have never received the previous letter hinted at, or a letter that gives me 3 months.

The only one I received, the above one, is dated 25 September but I received it on 24 October exactly, through the email.

Any thoughts? Thank you.