Six types of benefits are being cancelled and those on them will need to make sure they are registered for their new payments. Those still eligible for the six benefits being discontinued will have to apply for Universal Credit as their payments will soon end.
The Department for Work and Pensions is writing to hundreds of thousands of people who still get 'legacy benefits' that are being phased out around the UK and replaced with Universal Credit. People still claiming Child Tax Credit, Housing Benefit, Income Support, Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance, and Working Tax Credit will be affected.
The individual benefits are being scrapped in favour of the all-in-one Universal Credit system. The DWP has restarted "migrating" the old benefit claimants toward the Universal Credit system. It had paused the move due to the coronavirus pandemic.
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Claimants will be given a minimum of three months’ notice that they need to make a Universal Credit claim and given the number for a helpline. Charities are worried that some claimants may be cut off if they can work the new application system.
Paul Farmer, chief executive of Mind and a signatory, said: “The DWP’s managed migration plans could leave people with mental health problems with no income. Those too unwell to engage with the DWP could be left unable to pay their rent, buy food, or pay their rising energy bills.
“During a cost-of-living crisis, this could put the entire incomes of over 700,000 people with mental health problems, learning disabilities and dementia at risk. This is completely unacceptable. The DWP should halt this process until they can guarantee they will not stop anyone’s old benefits until they have successfully made a claim to Universal Credit.”
DWP research from 2018 showed that almost a quarter of people with long-term health conditions could not register a claim for Universal Credit online, while 53% said they needed more support setting up the claim.
A spokesman said: “Over five million people are already supported by Universal Credit. It is a dynamic system which adjusts as people’s earnings change, is more generous overall than the old benefits, and simplifies our safety net for those who cannot work. Roughly 1.4 million people on legacy benefits would be better off on Universal Credit, with top-up payments available for eligible claimants whose Universal Credit entitlement is less.”
These six benefits are due to end
- Child Tax Credit
- Housing Benefit
- Income Support
- income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)
- income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
- Working Tax Credit
The DWP is notifying people affected that they need to claim Universal Credit. They will have three months from the date of their notification letter to claim.
The DWP says: "If you currently receive these benefits, you will receive a Migration Notice letter from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). This letter will inform you that your existing benefits or tax credits will be ending, and the date you must claim Universal Credit by."
