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17,000 ESA claimants fail UC migration, so far

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17,000 employment and support allowance (ESA) claimants have, so far, had their legacy benefits claim ended after failing to migrate to universal credit (UC), according to official statistics released by the DWP.  That figure is set to rise to over 26,00 by the time the process is complete.

Overall 17% of individuals have failed to migrate from all legacy benefits to UC and had their claims stopped.  But, as the DWP predicted, the failure rate for ESA has been much lower, at 3% up to the end of May 2025.

Whilst it is very good news that the failure rate is so much lower for ESA than it has been for other legacy benefits such a tax credits, it is still 17,000 people who may not have lost their benefit if the move to UC had been automatic, instead of obliging claimants to make a fresh claim.

That’s the equivalent of a small town or city, such as Ripon.

And, from June to September 2025, another 310,00 ESA claimants have been issued with migration notices, meaning that almost all ESA claimants have now received one.  The same failure rate will result in another 9,300 claimants having their claims ended, bringing the total to over 26,000.

The DWP have provided no information on the reason why these claimants failed to migrate. 

But one possibility is that some of these people are the most vulnerable claimants, who were least able to manage the move and who will be the least able to take effective action when their claim ends and they are unable to support themselves.

Help is available to people being migrated, but figures from the DWP show that the vast majority of ESA claimants who got help relied on family and friends, a resource not available to the most isolated claimants:

  • Charity  5%
  • Citizens Advice  7%
  • Council  5%
  • Family or friend  57%
  • Jobcentre  1%
  • Support worker  5%
  • UC helpline 24%

ESA claimants who have not made a claim for 11 weeks after receiving the migration notice are placed on the enhanced support journey, which involves telephone calls and, in some cases home visits.

39% of ESA claimants, a total of 223,424 people, were placed on the enhanced support journey.

14% of those claimants were referred to a home visit, though the DWP say that in 49% of cases a visit was not, in the end, required.

In total, 46,539 ESA claimants were referred to the complex case coach team for additional support.

Concerningly, the DWP say that:

“Overall, the feedback from staff is that they do feel that the enhanced support journey is effective in supporting customers. However, there continues to be awareness that some individuals with complex or multiple barriers may still not be able to engage with the process.”

The big unanswered question then, is how many of the 26,000 people who are destined to have their claim ended chose not to continue because they did not need the money and how many have lost their award because they were unable to make the move, even with the offer of help.

You can read the latest ESA to UC migration statistics here

 

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  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    JustinR
    · 11 days ago
    It's awful to hear this. It's very frightening when you get these migration letters. I bet many just shove it under the carpet and ignore it. Can't really blame them even though that's worst thing you can do. It's all too understable.

    My migration terned out to be rediculously complex. I'm NOT happy as I was of the understanding I'd migrate to UC. Well, okay, I did migrate to UC with my sister's help with applying and taking me to visit Job Centre Plus for ID checks and getting questions answered. I was assured that I'd not be involved with job coaches and sanctions and stuff. Having met me he said "I'm not going to bother to have that conversation." 
    That's good; I got my UC confirmation letter that following week. Then, got another letter the next day to say that my ESA is changing.... yes, changing to Contributions based of New Style ESA? My sister rung the number on the phone to find out what was going on. The letter said I'd have to have an interview with a "job coach" to discuss how my disability affects my daily life.  The letter stated that the ESA was for 12 months only. 
    On phone we found out that I have a certainly level of contributions to claim for this benefit. I've never worked in my life and never paid income tax and NI!!! Even so, I have these contributions that were meant for my pension! Well, that's a years pension gone then!! 
    It was confirmed that I'd get it for 12 months then, UC is meant to increase to cover what NS ESA is paying now.  I'll have to talk to a job coach but only over the phone. 

    This was back in September and I've heard nothing from a job coach so far. Riduclous, it really is when the person I saw said this won't happen on UC for me personal. 
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    Christine
    · 12 days ago
    Hi, I’m very unhappy with my migration from ESA to universal credit.
    Basically it’s I was on ESA I was getting severe disabled benefits also because I was in a support group I was getting  extra money.
    The thing is they are expecting me to go out look for work  
    Get job centre calls you get the drift . 
    My daughter complained they said there was a mixup.
    Yesterday I found out how much money I was going to receive a month , well just to say I’m £300 short of what I was getting on ESA
    My conditions Asthma , arthritis, nerve damage , bowel issues, stage 3 kidney disease, gout , low blood pressure 
    I pass out regularly, depression, heart problem ,
    Waiting for MRI injury to my knee where I can’t walk very well , diverticulitis colitis. Rhinitis. 
    The Heart issue is to do with the left branch of my heart not beating right . I think that’s right it’s something that’s happened recently .
    I would work  if I could but I would be a liability.
    I have to sleep every afternoon as the pain gets worse my brain doesn’t function properly I get my words mixed up and I find it hard to get the right words out.
    I hope you all have found this information informative.
    Christine .
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      JustinR
      · 11 days ago
      @Christine It's interesting they put you on the type of UC? or have they put you on the new ESA? I say it as like you, i was assessed for ESA in 2015 and put into support group. I'm severaly sight impaired. I was on Income Support and Severe disablement allow for about 20 years before the change to ESA. 
      Now I get this UC migration, they've put me on it but my UC payment it tiny thanks to the DerpWP putting me on New Style ESA... for 12 months only. I'm supposed to be up before a job coach to discuss how my disability affects my life. 
      You'd think having been on ESA support group would have given them a clue, no? Honestly DWP.
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    Spectralis
    · 12 days ago
    One of the things we're taught in the UK at an early age is 'the stiff upper lip'. "Be a brave soldier for mummy." "Don't be a wimp!" "Sickness is for sissies" and "Show some mettle!"
    We talked about this in our cancer support group and came to the conclusion we cover up our symptoms much of the time. So if you feel breathless - BE BREATHLESS! If you wobble when you walk - WOBBLE! If you want to cry - CRY! If you can't remember - THEN DON'T! And if you fall asleep because you're so fatigued - THEN SO WHAT!
    You are sick and disabled not Meryl Streep or the Terminator. Stop trying to appear well so you can please the DWP assessor with your conscientious and coherent cooperation. All the medical info is in your notes and hopefully your CAB advisor can advocate for you in those moments. It's their job!
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    Skade
    · 13 days ago
    My situation is scarily similar to Scarlett's. I'm slightly older at 63 and my 8 month battle with UC continues. My migration claim was cancelled twice due to having a trapped asset and recieved no advice whatsoever on what was required of me to help the situation. After 4 months of no payments I now receive some benefits but these have been incorrect for a further 4 months. I have 3 Mandatory Reconsiderations taking place and am on the brink of involving my MP due to my lack of confidence in the situation reaching a satisfactory conclusion any time soon. I have suffered from MS and FND for years but am now on antidepressants thanks to the stress and anxiety of dealing with UC mishandling of my claim. In addition to this I have an ongoing complaint with them for breaching the Equalities Act 2020 for which they are tying themselves in knots in an attempt to dismiss my claims rather than just apologise. Unbelievable.
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    Scarlett
    · 13 days ago
    My migration from ESA to UC was one of the most stressful things I’ve ever experienced. They overestimated my capital, making me ineligible. This left me with nothing. I had to appeal, and of course won the appeal. Four months with no income. Severely disabled and live alone. How on earth does the DWP think this is fair and humane? I’m very surprised that I’m not dead. Also to note, when I was on ESA, my council tax was £11 per month. It’s now £200. I also have money deducted every month because of the capital I do have. The fear that my capital might go up, or rather, the DWP would claim that it had gone up, and I would be cut off and left with nothing in the blink of an eye again,is so stressful that I’ve had to seek help for my mental health, which I have never had to do in my life, and I’m 55. It’s a horrible horrible way to live, being disabled and reliant on people who hate you and would rather that you were dead. Even now my days are spent doing paperwork, writing emails, just trying to secure my situation. I’m endeavouring to stay alive, all the while I should be focusing on achieving something in life, using my talent and creativity. I’m much more useless in this system. On ESA I had enough brain space to focus on work and achieving, and community. I’m now a shell of who I was. 
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    HRH
    · 17 days ago
    I like everyone else was terrified of migrating to UC. But based on my experience, the ESA to UC migration is very easy and stress free. I decided not to wait for the next ESA payday or until the end of the UC deadline but to complete the UC migration form online on the day i received it to reduce my stress levels. the system wouldn't let me upload ID digitally and automatically said i would need to do this over the telephone. I have since discovered this is mandatory for anyone migrating from ESA to UC. An email told me to login to my UC journal, the message informed me i had a face to face identity check interview at my local job center the following week. I panicked. When i reread the whole message,  it said the interview was by telephone and i did not need to attend the job center. The telephone ID check was three questions 1. what benefits did i receive, 2. my NI-number and 3. addresses for the past five years. It was so easy. not what i imagined at all. I applied for a bridging loan in the payments section of the UC Journal. to-be repaid over 24 months to tide me over until my first UC payment. The first payment went into my bank account with no issues. 
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      Tired
      · 7 days ago
      @HRH That's nice. I had two 40-minute "ID Check" interrogations, that NO-ONE said in advance that I would have to do (Migration service, Complex Case Coach LIED in effect about the process). Still wasn't good enough, and they wanted a home visit (intrusive for someone with PTSD whose home is supposed to be  safe space). OR come to the job centre. No thanks, I was left shaking last time that happened. No support, because I am a survivor of ongoing narcissistic abuse. Also prejudice from charities, GP (and staff), and many others, as narcissists tend to character-assassinate you if possible. Which it is for vulnerable people. It has been one constant re-traumatisation, when I don't have any strength left to deal with even cooking and cleaning, let alone that!
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      Andy
      · 16 days ago
      @HRH Totally agree, I shouldn't have worried so much because it was very straightforward.
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    Jas
    · 17 days ago
    As I'm aware they attempt to give an extension if the self migration doesn't begin. But most people knew you would have thousands that were unable to, cope with the process many probably in care, the staff don't have the time or knowledge of the person in care probably take years to catch up with DWP manage yourself migration because there is none apart from conditions and time limits.
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      Tired
      · 7 days ago
      @Jas
      Exactly. More orwellian newspeak. "Managed" = (in my example) pushing Autistic people with PDA (Pathological Demand Avoidance) SEVERELY re-traumatising them. Despite them having diagnosed PTSD and such. Lied-to by staff. Messed-about. That would annoy/set-back ANYONE a bit - but when someone has permanent mental health damage CAUSED by the DWP (WCA, PIP assessment) due to prejudice against hidden disabilities, then it is predictable. Lawyer and a duty-of-care civil claim I think. Don't want money, want them to treat people like human beings. 
      Damned bankers imposing austerity, via debt-slavery of Governments are behind this. NEVER FORGET. Democracy is a joke - except in Iceland - they just chose not to pay their debts. Spain's austerity apparently finished in 2013. 
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    Ellen
    · 18 days ago
    Although I'm appointee to my son, I'm physically disabled ( bedbound)myself. My husband begged our local JCP to help. The manager was excellent. He railroaded DWP in to doing a home visit to help complete my son's migration as although I have 30 years experience of dealing with DWP for myself and my son, I was completely bamboozled by UC because I'm good with filling in forms, but useless with technology. Everything went smoothly, but happened very last minute ( after 10 weeks of me in absolute panic ) , the DWP home visit officer was able to complete the migration online after I set up my son's username and password and basic details, sort out his I.D etc,  and so far so good ( although we won't get a statement until end of November, and first payment until early December.)  My husband took another trip to JCP this week and got them to check everything had been done correctly, LCWRA had been applied etc. So we now just have to wait for the statement. 
    I can handle the journal now it's all been explained to me. 
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    bronc
    · 18 days ago
    In my town, which has a population of over 150,000, the local CAB office closed. The local council has a benefits advice service but it is only available for council tenants. This means that for many vulnerable people living in poverty there is nowhere to turn for help. To make matters worse some of these people are so poor they don't have internet access. NO wonder so many have lost their claim. The rates of deep poverty in this country must be rising fast never mind the mortality rate. How shameful in the fifth richest country in the world. That's Starmer's Britain for you where the rich get fantastically richer as poverty rates and human suffering rocket higher.
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      Matt
      · 18 days ago
      @bronc As a matter of interest, which town? I went to University in Sheffield in the early '90's (and very good too). It was a deprived area then; far more so now. No work, and those that are available are crap in pay, benefits and how one is treated. But as the lowest of the low, work betide you being 'rude' to your superiors 
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    John
    · 18 days ago
    DWP minister McFadden has launched a Independent Report into Young People and Work which will be headed by Alan Milburn. The report will focus primarily or solely on those with disabilities or health conditions. Alan Milburn is a former Labour Minister, who became a Tory government advisor and turned down the offer of becoming a Tory peer and Tory government minister. Alan Milburn has previously said disability benefits should be cut for all but the severely disabled and that disabled people should have a duty to engage with the DWP. He has said his report will be uncompromising and will make far reaching recommendations to change the system. So it looks likely the report will include recommending cuts to disability benefits and increased conditionality and sanctions. And McFadden has referred to the rising numbers of young people on disability benefits as a disease and a unaffordable burden on society. Rhetoric straight out of the history books which makes me at least pause to fear possibly worse fates than loss of benefits if society continues along this path of scapegoating and dehumanization.
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      Alex
      · 18 days ago
      @Copycat They'll go for young people first, as it's divide and conquer.  The idea is that if you attack the whole group at once, there will be huge resistance, but if you attack only a small section there will be much less resistance.  

      This seems to be a common tactic they use to attack us, and as most of us don't have the will to fight them until we are directly threatened, it seems to work quite well for them.  

      This is why it's so important that we all stay united, an attack on one of us is an attack on all of us. 
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      A
      · 18 days ago
      @Copycat Neil he's interested in young people i think.
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      John
      · 18 days ago
      @Copycat The Report into Young People and Work will only target young people, under 25 years old. 
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      Copycat
      · 18 days ago
      @John Dies this mean he's targeting young people only or using it as an excuse to screw us all over?
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    Spectralis
    · 20 days ago
    Whatever your opinions about Remembrance Day, it's revealing that Labour, Reform and the Tories have been persecuting people who don't wear red poppies.
    But so much for their 'patriotism' as all of them want to force through sick and disabled benefit cuts which will also target veterans and those who served in the armed forces. Their collective hypocrisy is staggering.
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      JustinR
      · 11 days ago
      @rookie Well, they're happy to let the media press do their work for them. There is this atmosphere of hostility if you don't wear a poppy. It's a bit like not joining the great war and getting a white feather for staying home.
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      Annatar
      · 18 days ago
      @rookie Spectralis is all seeing.
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      rookie
      · 18 days ago
      @Spectralis @Spectralis Where's your source for saying Labour, Reform and the Tories have been persecuting people who don't wear red poppies?
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      godgivemestrength
      · 19 days ago
      @godgivemestrength All very well to down vote, but how have Labour, Reform and the Tories been 'persecuting people who don't wear red poppies'? Anyone?
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      Mick
      · 19 days ago
      @John
      Hi John,  I am a Veteran and a War Pensioner.

      There are two different systems for Veterans.  Those who served prior to April 2006 are on War Pension.  Those who served or left the services after April 2006 are on Armed Forces Compensation Scheme (AFCS)  and can get Armed Forces Independance Payment (AFIP).  War Pensioners do not and cannot get AFIP.  We are subjected to the same PIP system as civilians.  I have long argued that War Pensioners should be given AFIP but it is always met with excuses, waffle and lies about why War Pensioners aren't given AFIP.

      Those who get AFIP have to receive AFCS and be given an AFCS award of 50% GIP (Guaranteed Income Payment) and are then automatically awarded AFIP at the equivalent of PIP enhanced for both daily living and mobility elements.  There are no AFIP assessments or reassessments.  It is awarded for life.  War pensioners have to claim PIP and go through the same assessments and reassessments etc as anyone else who claims PIP.  There is no preferential treatment, no War Pension qualifying percentage, nor a lifetime award as with AFIP.  War Pensioners will be affected by any changes made to the PIP and UC LCW/LCWRA systems.  I don't know about AFCS and if those Veterans on that system will be affected by UC and LCW/LCWRA changes etc but I'm almost certain they will.

      My War Pension includes Unemployability Supplement meaning I am not able to work and my condition has to be so severe that I am not able to take up any form of employment to qualify for it.  War Pension has to be awarded at 40% or higher to qualify for Unemployability Supplement.  Yet, the WCA can still find a person on this, fit for work as the criteria differs.  If we claim LCWRA we cannot be paid it even if we qualify, if we are receiving Unemployability Supplement.  They reduce or remove one or the other as they claim they are both paying for the same thing.

      We can also receive Mobility Supplement on War Pension.  Again we have to be awarded 40% War Pension to qualify.  War Pension Mobility Supplement cannot be claimed with PIP Mobility, a claim can be made for one or the other.  However, under the PIP assessment they still assess and score Mobility even if you are claiming War Pension Mobility Supplement and therefor, cannot claim PIP Mobility.

      We are also subjected to the same restrictions on savings we are allowed to have.  We also are subjected to the same social security in other areas such as council tax benefit, housing element of UC etc.  Though after many years they do now mostly disregard AFCS and War Pensions when claiming.

      The War Pension qualifying percentages to claim the various Supplements has been changed over the years so current percentages may differ to what they used to be.  There may be War Pensioners who qualified for supplements when the qualifying percentages were lower than at present.

      It is also worth mentioning that War Pensions, Supplements and AFCS and AFIP are NOT benefits or welfare, it is compensation and should be treated as such.

      There were 384,066 veterans in the UK receiving a war pension or compensation as of March 31, 2023. More broadly, the UK has a total of 411,727 recipients of the Armed Forces Pension and Compensation Scheme, which includes veterans and other individuals, as detailed in the GOV.UK statistics.

      That is a very large number of Veterans who will be affected.

      Apologies for the long post, there is a lot more I could add but that covers much of it and I figured it would be informative.
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    Matt
    · 20 days ago
    Well, if the news outlets are correct, those predicting Starmer be ousted by Christmas may very well be right. I do wonder if this a plot to prevent Andy Burnham getting a safe seat and making his own challenge. What a sorry state British politics has become over the last decade.
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      JustinR
      · 11 days ago
      @Matt Especially with the quality of MPs in parliament. They are all magnifiscently dire.
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      Matt
      · 18 days ago
      @John Or perhaps not....this is an utterly incompetent Government. The last competent Prime Minister (until he found God and Bush) was Blair. The last two decades have been shambolic...

      So, if increases in since Tax are off the table, and the Government wants to control the cost of living, then it's going to be austerity. And the next Budget? Streeting as Chancellor (don't be surprised if Starmer offers him the job to keep his own).
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      John
      · 20 days ago
      @Matt The budget is expected to increase taxes on the better off. This is utterly unacceptable to many Labour MPs. A betrayal of those Labour truly represent. 
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    Fed up and hopeless
    · 20 days ago
    “17,000 ESA claimants fail UC migration”

    What about the ESA to UC migration claimants failed by UC? 

    Two months later and my claim is still to be sorted, and not for lack of my trying. 
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    Aw
    · 20 days ago
    Apparently the "enhanced support journey" still requires that people answer the door to DWP staff, something I guarantee that many very vulnerable people will not do. If they fail to do so, the plan is to remove their benefits to "force them to engage" What could possibly go wrong with that approach... They still insist on seeing us as deliberately naughty children instead of profoundly unwell adults with high support needs.
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      Ellen
      · 18 days ago
      @Aw True, and even as an appointee with many years experience of dealing with DWP I found the experience of them coming to my house at quite short notice very daunting.  My house is mine and my son's safe space, I felt myself being very wary of 'small talk ' with him, due to years of having to deal with assessments.
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      Ivan
      · 20 days ago
      @Aw This is easy to imagine. Some people are long-term sick/housebound, who struggle psychologically to engage with strangers on any level.  IDS & the architects of UC either failed to take these realities on board, or they still went ahead from malicious design. All the palaver around claiming UC, signing in to check one's "journal", etc. simply isn't in the best interests of some people who struggle daily with long-term illnesses. UC should be for lower-paid workers & the unemployed who get occasional part-time work. For them UC works well. Not so for some long-term sick, some who may now end up destitute or even worse. 
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    Ted
    · 21 days ago
    I moved across back in February got my first payment in 5 weeks although I did get accused of fraud that I had money and property which was proven to be untrue journal messages get answered within a day the uc helpline is no use nobody knows what they are doing I have got used to the monthly payments now not had one of them bank statement reviews yet it’s an ok system provided everything just ticks over and nobody bothers you my work coach only gives me hassle only upon visiting the jobcentre (I’m on lcw)but on the journal leaves me alone maybe because I’m in my 50s and not worked for 30 years my health has got worse now so just waiting for a reacessment for lcwra 
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    Scot
    · 21 days ago
    I’ve noticed a few recent posts on the forum and in comments on here stating that all managed migration letters are supposed to have been sent out by now, I’m almost certain that isn’t the case and would suggest that statement needs to be checked as I think there will still be a high number of people looking in who haven’t received their migration notice letter yet. 
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      Ellen
      · 18 days ago
      @Scot My understanding is that all migration notices are supposed to go out by December, with all migrations completed by April. Time will tell if that's the case .
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    Manny
    · 21 days ago
    Makes you wonder how many of these people just checked out and called it a day 😔 
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      Lynn
      · 13 days ago
      @Manny I am on the verge of calling it a day. I have been the appointee for my daughter for many years and until this ‘migration’ without any issues. The whole process appears flawed and some of those you speak with on the telephone appear to be incompetent. It has got to a stage where I have made a formal complaint, I am still awaiting a response. I can’t deal with them anymore and have ignored the latest text asking me to ring them as I am stressed before I even ring. If it affects her benefits we’ll manage somehow but at least I won’t have the stress.
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    Andy
    · 21 days ago
    I received a phone call from the DWP about two weeks before my deadline to ask why I hadn't completed the application. The man on the phone told me a home visit from a DWP officer had been arranged to talk to me about my failure to apply.. 

    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      ShadowPony
      · 19 days ago
      @Andy I got that same phone call, though I had told UC what my plan was to do all the work, then wait for my last combined CBESA and IRESA payment, then claim UC the day after. I had told them this about six times already. I then did what I said, I claimed UC the day after my CBESA IRESA payment, I'm now waiting for my first payment on UC. I told them I didn't want to take the advance loan if I could at all avoid it.
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    Ivan
    · 21 days ago
    No surprise if at least some decided against the hassle of claiming due to proximity of retirement. I'd have done the same if I had that option. IMO, UC works best for the employed & those unemployed, but actively seeking work. For those with chronic health conditions & not computer savvy, it can be daunting. I'll get my first UC payment on 5th December after migrating from ESA. Interview at my local JCP, with various documents, was necessary to confirm my ID. I was lucky in that I had an affable female dealing with me. But since applying I've received over a dozen messages in my journal, which I'm frequently reminded I must keep signing into to check for new messages. How is this helpful to chronically ill people with various health issues, including debilitating depression? What about those without online access or who aren't very computer savvy? ESA was better, even if one had less money. At least ion ESA one was assured of some peace of mind until the next assessment. 
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      Tonedial
      · 15 days ago
      @Ivan insist to be taken off the journal... as you can't cope...and be on phone messages/letter contact only. You get a letter in the mail monthly with your award run-down explained.
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    John
    · 21 days ago
    Without knowing the reason it is pure speculation.
    Maybe they are genuinely in need and have been failed by the state.
    Maybe the DWP contact details are not up to date.
    Maybe they are in hospital or a hospice or currently abroad.
    Maybe they got a job or came into money or got married to someone with a job or savings.
    Maybe they reached state pension age.
    Maybe they were getting zero money and just their NI stamp and already have enough to qualify for a full pension.
    Maybe they are dead or moved abroad and no one told the DWP.
    Maybe they never existed and were fraudulent claimants made by members of the public or created by DWP staff. 
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      Tired
      · 7 days ago
      @Trevor Made me homeless through no fault of my own, this UC MIgration. Cannot deal with a dodgy landlord AND dodgy DWP at the same time (or even one of them TBH).
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      Trevor
      · 21 days ago
      @John @John Surely that's the point:  it's pure speculation because the DWP either haven't done the research to find out why 17,000 have lost their benefits or they aren't prepared to make the reasons public.

      "Maybes" are not good enough when people's wellbeing and possibly their lives are at stake, the DWP should know the answers and be willing to share.  It's right to ask questions of them.

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