The DWP estimate that around 440,000 legacy benefit claimants will be forced to migrate to universal credit in 2024-2025. This number will not include claimants on income-related employment and support allowance (irESA) who are not due to be migrated until 2028, at the earliest.

The estimate was provided in a written parliamentary answer earlier this month DWP employment minister Jo Churchill.

The figures are:

  • ESA income based (and Child Tax Credits)  90,000
  • Income support  110,000
  • Tax Credit & Housing Benefit  120,000
  • Tax Credit only  10,000
  • Housing Benefit only  100,000
  • JSA income based  20,000

Claimants who receive employment and support allowance (ESA) with child tax credits will receive mandatory migration notices to move to universal credit between July and September 2024.

If you receive irESA only or irESA with housing benefit, you can expect to be asked to migrate to UC in 2028 or 2029.   If you receive  contribution-based ESA without any legacy benefits, you will not be affected by managed migration.

Benefits and Work has updated our ESA to UC migration materials.

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  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    Jane · 2 months ago
    I am on working tax credits and ADP, when will I be expected to move to UC? I don't qualify for HB anymore 
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    Ian · 2 months ago
    Hi Both my wife and myself received pip also have just been told we need to migrate to UC from tax credits, my wife has MS and it looks like we will have to attend many visits to job centre etc to carry on with claim for this year as tax credits stop for us now, I really don’t know if we can face it, is it worth while filling out forms, does anyone know if being on pip is enough evidence for this or do they want to humiliate us with tests as well , is it worth it. 😞
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      Jill · 2 months ago
      @Ian Ian, if you care for your wife and claim carers allowance you wont have to claim lcwra or look for work 
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      Jill · 2 months ago
      @Ian Ian, if not already on lcwra you will both need a wca to claim it. Pip will not suffice as yet it will be a few years yet b4 that comes into force 
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    Phoebe · 2 months ago
    I don’t understand this bit “If you receive contribution-based ESA without any legacy benefits, you will not be affected by managed migration.”.

    I receive CB ESA, which *is* a legacy benefit… so I’m not sure what this means for me.

    Can anyone clarify? 
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      Jill · 2 months ago
      @Phoebe Contribution based ESA is not a legacy benefit you wont migrate. 
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      Rach · 2 months ago
      @Phoebe Very unclear but possibly referring to the bit about Child Tax Credits in that those in receipt of CTC are being migrated even if on IrESA
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      Rach · 2 months ago
      @Nigel Can't be many people in that position unless their partner works full time and they own their own home or have other income?
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      Rach · 2 months ago
      @Phoebe Same. Confusing. I thought I was starting to understand but now not sure.
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      Nigel · 2 months ago
      @Phoebe You don't  have  to worry  if you only get contribution ESA and no other legacy  benefits  you not  migrate .
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    Rachael · 2 months ago
    I am really confused. Isn't income based the same as income related?

    In one paragraph it states that income based will be moved. Then the next it says income related won't be. 
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    Daryl · 2 months ago
    I've been asked to migrate across from working tax credit to universal credit. It is not a good experience. My payments from tax credits have stopped (because I have applied to Universal Credit) and I have received no payments and won't receive any payments until DWP have brought me in for an interview with my "work coach" (I run my own business) to prove that I am self employed. Have you ever heard such crap. I wasn't going to them because I was unemployed, I was told to migrate by Tax Credits. What a shambles. They treat you like you are someone who should be ashamed to claim. I wouldn't mind but I was already assessed for Tax Credits and now they may me feel like I'm the lowest of low! Disgraceful. No wonder people who suffer with mental health issues decide to end it all!
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    ian.barnes1@btinternet.com · 2 months ago
    I receive ESA Contribution, Reduced Earnings allowance, Enhanced PIP both components and Housing Benefit will I be subject to this change 
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    Ian Barnes · 2 months ago
    I am ESA Contribution with Reduced Earnings Allowance and Housing Benefit, reach State Pension age in 2030 , will I be subject to this
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    Burstar1 · 2 months ago
    I get esa and pip how will i know if my area is selected and what do i need to do to prepare as i can hardly cope now
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    MrFibro · 2 months ago
    Looks like I'll have gotten away with this, as next year i'll be retired.  And I suppose i will be on state pension, and my PIP.  Would I also get pension credit too ?as I wont get legacy benefits with a state pension so basically i will be worse off than if i'd still been on irESA ?
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      UC · 2 months ago
      @DWP EVIL Yep and Labour as well
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      Anne · 2 months ago
      @Sky You don't get pension credit if you have a carer. I still get hb and CT but don't get free dental or glasses none of the £900 cost of living payments either. Can't get a budgeting loan either. I should have an underlying entitlement to pension credit but it doesn't work like that. It needs to be fixed because it is flawed.
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      DWP EVIL · 2 months ago
      @MrFibro I bet Tories next step forced State Pension, Pension Credit to UC one day
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      Fibrogal · 2 months ago
      @MrFibro If you don’t have any other pension income you should be entitled to PC. If you currently get HB and CT check with them if your claim will continue or if you need to do CofC different councils deal with it differently don’t wait till you hit SP age. 
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      Sky · 2 months ago
      @MrFibro Yes you will get pension credit with being on pip
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    Silverstar · 2 months ago
    Hi, I recieve contribution based ESA also with income related ESA so I’m wondering how this will affect me and if I will be migrated in 2024/25 or will they leave me alone for a while?
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      lesley · 2 months ago
      @chloe I agree chloe.  Some confirmation would be helpful.
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      chloe · 2 months ago
      @Silverstar This is the same for me, (plus housing benefit, so irESA +cESA + HB).. From the above it sounds like 2028-9 but not 100% sure... confirmation would be great. 
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    lesley · 2 months ago
    Thank you.
    I was a bit worried then when I read that. I am 76 and on pension credit and housing benefit.  According to Age Uk the Housing Credit for pensioners is not happening until 2028 at the earliest.
    'Pension Credit may include a new housing credit to help towards rent in the future, but this may not happen until 2028 at the earliest'.
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    clearwater · 2 months ago
    Steve & gang
    thank you for clarification on the above.....If you receive irESA only or irESA with housing benefit, you can expect to be asked to migrate to UC in 2028 or 2029.
    There have been various sources/articles on this but NOTHING i have seen definately stating irESA with housing benefit, as they called it ESA leaving one puzzled/wondering. as irESA & contribution-based ESA arent the same 
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    Mike · 2 months ago
    So I'll be ok for a few years, unless I change address.  Then my money will be slowly eroded by inflation, what a wonderful system we have. 
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      Fibrogal · 2 months ago
      @Mike You can change address with same council and not have your money affected. It’s if you move into a new council area you hit snags. 
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