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.
