Strong evidence has emerged that the DWP is going to start migrating income-related employment and support allowance (irESA) claimants to universal credit (UC) this year, without any hoped for postponement. The latest proof is in the government’s response to a report into UC by the Pubic Accounts Committee (PAC).
In the last few days we have highlighted growing evidence that suggests that any delay in the forced migration of irESA claimants to UC is unlikely to happen.
One clue was the DWP Touchbase newsletter, which said that the “correct level of support is in place to safely move customers over to UC”.
We also highlighted that the DWP updated its “Move to Universal Credit if you get a Migration Notice letter” page on 30 August to include confirmation that “claimants who are moving to Universal Credit from Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) without a break do not need to provide fit notes if they meet the listed criteria.”
The latest evidence is in the response by the government to the PAC’s report into the DWP’s progress in implementing UC.
The original PAC report was written in April of this year, under the former Conservative government. But the response, in the September Treasury Minutes, is addressed to “the new committee”, making it clear it was the current Labour government that wrote it.
The PAC argued that “With the move of Employment and Support Allowance claimants to Universal Credit now deferred to 2028, it will be vital for the Department to capture and act upon the learning from its current programme about how to migrate vulnerable claimants effectively.”
However, since that was written, the Conservatives decided to move the migration of ESA claimants forward. So, in their response, the Labour government say:
“The department acknowledges the need to be ready for migration of the Employment and Support Allowance cohort in 2024-25 as opposed to 2028. This is in-light of the recent policy change to bring the migration of the Employment and Support Allowance cohort forward and deliver this element as part of the current Universal Credit Programme.”
This appears to make it clear that the Labour administration intends to stick to the new, accelerated timetable for migrating ESA claimants to UC.
The government also rejects the criticism by the committee that they should not be reducing the funding for the Citizens advice ‘Help to Claim” service at a time when more claimants will need advice.
The government argues that:
“The department is currently working with Citizens Advice to consider the impact on Help to Claim of bringing forward the migration of remaining Employment and Support Allowance claimants to Universal Credit and what steps are needed to ensure the right support is in place for these customers.”
ESA claimants who also receive child tax credit are already being migrated to UC. It seems increasingly likely, but still not certain, that other ESA claimants will be following them in the coming months.
The fact that the government is aware of how anxious claimants are about when the migration process will begin, but still chooses not to make an announcement, says a great deal about its attitude to people whose lives it has such an effect upon
You can download the September Treasury Minutes, which contain the government response to the PAC report, from this page.
Many thanks to Rightsnet, the website for welfare rights workers, for highlighting this document.
