The Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) has announced that from April it will be 'stepping up' its plans and more families who claim Tax Credits will be moved over to Universal Credit.
From next month more Migration Notices will land giving legacy benefits claimants notice that they will be switched to Universal Credit. Two million people are thought to be claiming Working and/or Child Tax Credit, and the DWP says that these claimants are first on the list. The government department also warned that those who fail to act on the notice risk losing their current benefit entitlements.
The news comes after the DWP resumed its plans last year to move all claimants currently receiving legacy benefits over to Universal Credit by the end of 2024 after the switch was paused during the pandemic. Chronicle Live reported a spokesperson as saying: "The move of claimants on legacy benefits to Universal Credit was paused during the pandemic following record demand so that DWP could process increased application volumes. Since its introduction some claimants have naturally moved to Universal Credit following a change in their circumstances and claimants have always been able to make a claim for Universal Credit if they wish to do so. The Department is now increasing the number of legacy claimants being asked to move to Universal Credit."
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The migration to Universal Credit is being expanded from April and follows a 'discovery phase' when certain areas of the country were chosen to pilot the benefits switch. While the DWP has confirmed that the initial focus will be on Tax Credit claimants, the aim is that all legacy benefits claimants will be moved to Universal Credit by the end of 2024.
The DWP spokesperson said: "By migrating to Universal Credit, with the support of the Department for Work and Pensions, claimants will continue to receive the benefit they are entitled to through a future-proofed modern benefits system. Affected claimants will continue to receive the benefit they are entitled to through a more dynamic system that better reflects individual needs each month.
"Universal Credit provides a vital safety net for millions of people every year, enabling them to support themselves and their families through an agile digital system, and to access their benefits more easily as well as amend their claim should there be a change in their circumstances.
"In most cases, individuals will be better off following a move from legacy benefits to UC. However, where an individual’s entitlement to Universal Credit would be lower than their legacy benefits entitlement, in the vast majority of cases, they will be entitled to a top-up payment known as Transitional Protection. This means that their Universal Credit entitlement will be the same as their legacy benefit entitlement at the point they move."
Minister for Employment, Guy Opperman MP, whose constituency in Hexham was included in the Northumberland pilot, said: "Universal Credit has proven itself as a benefits system fit for the modern age, having dealt with the unprecedented demand of 3.7 million claims during the pandemic. The movement of those on legacy benefits to Universal Credit will ensure we can continue to provide the best level of support to benefit recipients through an effective and streamlined system.
“This Government remains committed to supporting the most vulnerable in society. I want to encourage all those who receive their migration notices to take action to ensure that they continue to receive the benefits they are entitled to.”
What is Universal Credit?
Universal Credit was introduced in 2013 to end the complex web of six legacy benefits and was fully rolled out for all new claims in December 2018. It was introduced to replace a range of different benefits for unemployed and low-paid people and the aim was to make the system simpler. More than 5.8 million people claim in the UK, and of those people, around 40% of claimants have jobs.
What happens if you want to move to Universal Credit now
If you want to move to Universal Credit before you receive your Migration Notice, the process can be begun. You can claim directly online or via the dedicated Universal Credit Migration Notice helpline on 0800 169 0328 or by visiting your local jobcentre. If you require more time to claim you can call the DWP free on 0800 169 0328.
For claimants requiring additional support to complete their application support is available including through Citizens Advice Help to Claim, which delivers step by step support to complete a UC claim.
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