By Over 2 million to be affected by Universal Credit change from today
Roughly 2.6 million people who currently claim legacy benefits will see a change from today as the Government migrates claimants across to Universal Credit.
The migration process was halted during the Covid pandemic but resumes as of today, Monday, May 9.
The change will impact people who claim tax credits, income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA), Income Support, income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) and Housing Benefit.
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) will start moving people across today and increase the numbers of people it processes over the next few months.
According to the Mirror, everyone will eventually be moved from the older welfare system to Universal Credit by December 2024.
People will receive a migration notice via the post when it is their turned to be moved, they will have a three month deadline to claim universal credit.
Those who don’t start a claim for Universal Credit within this time will se their current benefits automatically stop after this deadline.
Some may be moved across to Universal Credit early if they see a change in circumstances such as moving house or chaninge their working hours.
Not everyone will get more money on Universal Credit as the DWP says 1.4million legacy claimants (55%) are set to be better off under the new system, and 900,000 (35%) would be worse off.
The other 300,000 benefit claimants will see no change.
Most of those being moved over to Universal Credit are on ESA (1.2million) or Tax Credits (1million). 200,000 are on Income Support and 100,000 on each of Housing Benefit and JSA.
