The Department for Work and Pensions has confirmed steps to speed up processing of new Attendance Allowance claims, with a target of clearing 90% within 30 days

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has confirmed it is taking measures to “speed up and streamline the processing of new Attendance Allowance claims” as part of its broader Service Modernisation programme. Pensions Minister Torsten Bell stated that the goal is to clear 90 per cent of all new Attendance Allowance applications within 30 days.

Mr Bell noted that most claims are being processed within approximately three to four weeks, a timeline that has been “supported by increasing uptake of the new digital application route”.

In Scotland, pensioners can no longer claim Attendance Allowance and must instead apply for the devolved equivalent – Pension Age Disability Payment (PADP). According to recent data from Social Security Scotland, the average processing time for PADP at the end of January was 10 working days (two weeks).

The DWP Minister’s remarks were in response to a question posed by Labour MP Nadia Whittome, who queried ‘what assessment has been made of the potential impact of current waiting times on decisions on claims for Attendance Allowance’ particularly for claimants undergoing active cancer treatment such as chemotherapy, reports the Daily Record.

In a written reply to the Nottingham East MP, Mr Bell said: “The Department keeps Attendance Allowance processing times under review and recognises the importance of timely decisions for older people, including those undergoing significant medical treatment.

“Through our wider Service Modernisation programme, we have taken steps to speed up and streamline the processing of new Attendance Allowance claims.

“We are now working to a target of clearing 90 per cent of new claims within 30 days, and current performance shows that the majority of claims are being cleared within around 3 – 4 weeks, supported by increasing uptake of the new digital application route.

“For customers who are nearing the end of life, we operate a dedicated fast-track process under the Special Rules for End of Life, where claims are prioritised and typically cleared within eight days.

“The extension of the end of life definition from 6 months to 12 months ensures more people with advanced conditions can benefit from this expedited process.”

Recent DWP statistics reveal that at the end of August 2025, more than 1.7 million older people were in receipt of additional financial support via Attendance Allowance. Comparable figures from Social Security Scotland show that over 175,500 individuals aged above 66 are receiving monetary assistance through Pension Age Disability Payment.

Both benefits presently offer either £73.90 or £110.40 each week and as they are generally paid every four weeks, this equates to either £295.60 or £441.60 per payment period. The weekly sum someone receives depends upon the level of care they require. The amount someone receives depends on the level of support required, and the benefit is designed to assist people of State Pension age with daily living costs, which can also help them maintain independence in their own home for longer. It’s important to note there is no mobility component attached to Attendance Allowance.

The benefit supports people with a disability, long-term illness and mental or physical health conditions.

Who can claim?

You should apply for Attendance Allowance or PADP if you have a disability or illness and need assistance or supervision throughout the day or at times during the night – even if you don’t currently receive that help.

This might include:

• Help with your personal care – for example getting dressed, eating or drinking, getting in and out of bed, bathing or showering and going to the toilet
• Help to stay safe

You should also apply if you have difficulties with personal tasks, for example if they take you a long time, you experience pain or you need physical help, like a chair to lean on. Attendance Allowance isn’t just for people with a physical disability or illness.

You should also claim if you need help or supervision throughout the day or night and have:

• A mental health condition
• Learning difficulties
• A sensory condition – if you are deaf or visually impaired

Pensioners in Scotland

Individuals aged 66 and over should apply for the Pension Age Disability Payment, which is managed and delivered by Social Security Scotland. Comprehensive information can be found on MYGPV.SCOT.

What amount could I receive from Attendance Allowance?

You could be eligible for either £73.90 (lower rate) or £110.40 (higher rate) per week.

The funds can be used in any way you see fit and could assist you in maintaining your independence at home for a longer period.

This could include:

• Paying for taxis
• Contributing towards bills
• Employing a cleaner or gardener

Can I apply for Attendance Allowance even if I have savings and other income?

Indeed. Attendance Allowance isn’t means-tested so your other income or the amount of savings you have doesn’t matter – there’s no upper limit. It is also tax-free and you will be exempt from the Benefit Cap, meaning no money will be deducted from any other benefits.

Will Attendance Allowance impact my State Pension?

No, it won’t affect your State Pension and you can even claim it if you’re still employed and earning an income.

How does Attendance Allowance influence other benefits?

If you receive Attendance Allowance, your other benefits might increase. These include:

• Extra Pension Credit
• Housing Benefit Reduction
• Council Tax Reduction

How do I submit a claim?

To apply for Attendance Allowance, you’ll need to fill out a lengthy claim form. Although it may seem intimidating initially, assistance is available from Citizens Advice and Independent Age.

Complete information on how to obtain the application form by post or over the phone can be found on the GOV.UK website here.

What happens if I am about to reach State Pension age?

If you are considering applying for Attendance Allowance as you approach State Pension age, it might be more beneficial to claim Personal Independence Payment (PIP) immediately – you could potentially receive more money.

Who cannot claim Attendance Allowance?

Attendance Allowance cannot be claimed if you reside in Scotland, instead, you will need to apply for the new devolved benefit Pension Age Disability Payment. Full details can be found on MYGOV.SCOT.

You won’t be eligible for Attendance Allowance if you already receive PIP or Disability Living Allowance (DLA) to cover your care costs. If you apply for Attendance Allowance whilst receiving DLA, the DWP will typically reassess your DLA award instead.

You can renew your PIP or DLA when the current award expires provided you still meet the eligibility criteria. If your renewal is unsuccessful, you can apply for Attendance Allowance instead.

More information about Attendance Allowance can be found on the GOV.UK website here.

The UK Government has said claimants still on legacy benefits should have transferred to Universal Credit by the end of March.

People who have transferred to Universal Credit from Tax Credits are being warned they could face a fine of up to £100. Martin Lewis issued the alert for claimants in England who have moved from the so-called legacy benefit who ticked the box for ‘free prescriptions and dental treatment’.

Prescriptions are free in Scotland which means nobody in work or claiming benefits needs to pay for them. However, this is not the case in England.

Martin urged people not to assume you get free prescriptions and dental care on Universal Credit because you did so on Tax Credits. During the latest edition of The Martin Lewis Money Show Live on STV, the consumer champion explained income for people on Tax Credits was assessed annually, but Universal Credit is on a month-to-month basis. Incorrectly claiming free prescriptions could land claimants in England with a penalty of up to £100.

Martin told viewers: “Do not assume if you move from Tax Credits to Universal Credit you will get free prescriptions and dental. The Universal Credit income threshold for these is lower than under Tax Credits and remember, with Universal Credit your eligibility is deemed by a monthly assessment and with Tax Credits it is an annual assessment.”

The financial expert continued to explain that when individuals are completing the form, they reach the section for free prescriptions and dental care and simply tick either the Universal Credit, Jobseeker’s Allowance or Tax Credits box. However, this can prompt a letter from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) asking them to verify their eligibility as they may not be aware that the income threshold varies.

Consequently, those who fail to check it and understand the difference could face a fine of up to £100 – even if they were unaware they had made an error, reports the Daily Record. Martin mentioned he is also in discussions with the UK Government to improve the clarity of the forms due to the increase in fines over the past couple of years.

He added: “Protect yourself and go check if you are eligible.” Comprehensive information on eligibility for free prescriptions on Universal Credit can be found on GOV.UK.

Transition to Universal Credit

Universal Credit is progressively replacing six existing benefits, including Income Support, income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance, income-related Employment and Support Allowance, Housing Benefit, Child Tax Credit and Working Tax Credit.

The UK Government states that the new system aims to streamline the benefits system by consolidating several payments into a single monthly payment.

The managed migration process has been underway for several years and involves directly contacting claimants when it is their turn to transition to Universal Credit. The DWP sends out letters detailing the necessary steps individuals need to take and offers assistance to those who require help with the application process.

Under the managed migration scheme, claimants who receive a Migration Notice are instructed to apply for Universal Credit within a given deadline. Those who fail to submit a claim in time could see their current benefits halted.

The transition of people receiving Income Support and income-based JSA is nearly finished, and these two benefits will officially cease at the end of March as the UK Government continues its broader reform of the welfare system.

However, the DWP have agreed to a brief extension for some cases involving Employment and Support Allowance (ESA). The Department states that many ESA claims are more complex and necessitate additional support to ensure people transition safely to Universal Credit.

Senior DWP officials have updated MPs on the Access to Work scheme, which provides grants for workplace support for those with health conditions or disabilities.

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has provided an update on a scheme that could offer £4,000 or more in additional support. Senior officials from the department recently appeared before the Public Accounts Committee to discuss the scheme, which can provide over £60,000 a year in assistance.

The top officials briefed MPs about the Access to Work scheme. This is a grant programme offering extra workplace support for those with a health condition or disability, helping them carry out their job. Through the programme, you can receive up to £69,260 annually in grants, which can cover things like specialist equipment or a support worker.

The average grant award is £4,000 per year, or £10,500 for those requiring a support worker, the equivalent of almost £200 a week.

Both demand and spending on the scheme have doubled since the 2018/2019 tax year, with the DWP spending £321million on the programme in 2024/2025. The current wait time for applications to be processed is up to 37 weeks.

However, the committee heard that the DWP can fast-track your application. DWP permanent secretary, Peter Schofield, said: “If you have a job that you are ready to start within four weeks, we prioritise it. If there is some other reason why it needs to be prioritised, we prioritise it.”

The officials said they are making progress in cutting the time needed to process cases. Mr Schofield said one significant change they have observed is the type of medical conditions for which people are claiming the support, reports the Mirror.

He elaborated: “What we have seen is not only a doubling of claims but a really dramatic change in the nature of the claims coming in and of the health conditions that we are talking about-more mental health conditions and more conditions around neurodiversity. There is not a standard way of looking at what would be required in terms of reasonable adjustments.”

Reasonable adjustments are alterations that employers are legally required to make so a person with a health condition can perform their job. This could involve providing physical aids or changing how you execute your work.

Mr Schofield stated: “You have to think about each of those conditions individually. They could be fluctuating conditions; they could be conditions that impact in particular circumstances in a different way.

“Obviously, the nature of the workplace has changed dramatically as well. To get this right – to get the right decisions – is a really complex piece of work, and we have got to get it right.”

Pat McFadden says the UK must move from a ‘welfare state to a working state’, with employment at the centre of welfare policy, but disability charities warn of increased pressure on vulnerable claimants

Millions of benefit claimants could face increasing pressure to enter employment after the UK Government signalled a change in how the welfare system functions. Work and Pensions Secretary Pat McFadden said the UK must transition from a “welfare state to a working state”, with employment positioned at the heart of welfare policy.

Addressing an audience at Waltham Forest College in London on Monday, Mr McFadden said welfare reform ought to concentrate on creating pathways for individuals to secure employment rather than depending on long-term assistance from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).

He said: “Welfare reform should be about opportunity and work, and that’s what I mean by a working state. This is an approach that puts work at its heart.”

The UK Government maintains the existing system fails to adequately support people into jobs, as the number of individuals out of work owing to sickness or long-term health conditions continues to climb.

The most recent DWP statistics reveal approximately 24 million people across Great Britain are receiving at least one benefit. This comprises 8.3m on Universal Credit and over 3.9m on Personal Independence Payment (PIP), reports the Daily Record.

While disability payments are now administered in Scotland through Adult Disability Payment (ADP), broader welfare policy and work requirements remain under Westminster’s jurisdiction.

The DWP chief said employment can serve a crucial role in enhancing people’s lives and cautioned too many individuals were being denied opportunities. He said: “Work is one of the most important ways in which we realise the best versions of ourselves.”

As part of the proposals, the UK Government has committed £1 billion towards supporting young people into employment. Companies could be offered payments of up to £3,000 for taking on young people who have been out of work for at least six months, as ministers seek to address growing youth unemployment and economic inactivity.

Mr McFadden stated that getting people into work was fundamental to the UK Government’s welfare reform strategy. He said: “I see no reason why MPs should not support welfare reform that has work and opportunity at its heart.”

The DWP states the measures are part of a broader approach designed to cut economic inactivity and assist employers in filling job vacancies. Nevertheless, disability charities have cautioned that potential welfare system changes could place additional financial strain on vulnerable individuals.

In response to the address, Evan John, policy adviser at Sense, said: “It’s extremely concerning that the government seems to be laying the groundwork for reforms to disability benefits, fuelling anxiety among disabled people already struggling as the cost of living rises. Sense research found that two in five disabled people with complex needs who rely on benefits are in debt because they cannot afford the essentials.”

John expressed that the charity was particularly worried about the future of the health element of Universal Credit, which assists individuals whose conditions limit their capacity to work. He stated: “Scrapping this benefit will not help more young disabled people find work – instead it risks pushing them further into poverty and isolation by increasing the barriers they already face.”

John suggested that the UK Government should concentrate on enhancing employment support rather than reducing disability benefits. He commented: “The government needs to rule out further cuts and focus instead on investing in more support to help disabled people find and stay in employment.”

More information regarding the UK Government’s welfare reform plans is anticipated later this year. Pat McFadden’s full speech can be read online at GOV.UK.

Households may be missing out on DWP cost of living support, energy bill grants and council assistance as living costs rise due to Middle East oil price increases

The cost of living could be set to rise sharply for many UK households. This follows the conflict in the Middle East which has caused oil prices to soar, potentially impacting petrol prices, energy bills, grocery costs and more.

However, some individuals may be eligible for more support than they are currently receiving. The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), your utility suppliers, and your local council may offer cost of living support for households struggling to cover the essentials.

Citizens Advice has outlined who is eligible and how to claim your entitlement. Check below to see if you qualify.

DWP benefits

The DWP can provide much more than just the monthly or weekly benefit payments it offers. Claiming your entitlement, even if you only receive a minimal payment, can make you eligible for a range of other support like discounts or grants for essential bills, reports the Mirror.

There are online benefit checkers available where you can see exactly what you’re entitled to. People who are sick, disabled, on a low income, or have caring duties may be eligible for certain benefits.

If you’re struggling with the cost of living and only starting your benefits application now, you may be able to get your first payment early whilst you’re waiting for your application to be processed. This is known as a short-term benefit advance.

Advances are available for:

• Universal Credit
• Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)
• Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
• Carer’s Allowance
• Pension Credit
• State Pension

These advances do need to be repaid. Typically, the DWP will deduct from your future benefit payments until the total amount is fully returned. The repayments can be spread out over several weeks or months depending on which benefit you are claiming.

Suppliers

As energy bills become increasingly concerning for households, many individuals may be able to receive support directly from their supplier. This could include grants, fuel vouchers or being placed on a social tariff to reduce your cost of living.

Certain grants can also assist in making your home more energy efficient by helping with the cost of:

• A new boiler
• Boiler repairs
• Loft or cavity wall insulation
• A heat pump

Several energy suppliers also offer grants to help individuals settle their energy debts. Citizens Advice suggests contacting your supplier directly to see what additional support they can provide.

Local councils

Your local council may be able to assist with a variety of cost of living support, including fuel vouchers. However, each council may have different offerings and eligibility criteria so it’s best to check your local council’s website for more details.

Councils might also provide ‘Warm Welcome’ spaces that can be used by anyone to offer some relief. Each space is unique but Citizens Advice notes that these spaces often provide things like hot food and drinks, activities, community meeting places, access to the internet and computer assistance.

The DWP has been urged to increase Cold Weather Payments from £25 to £50 as energy bills soar, with experts warning the current amount ‘doesn’t go very far anymore’

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has been called upon to raise the payment rates for a specific scheme. The programme is accessible to millions of benefit recipients, including those on Universal Credit and Pension Credit.

The Cold Weather Payments scheme provides £25 payments if temperatures in your area drop to, or are predicted to be, below zero degrees centigrade for seven consecutive days. You may receive multiple payments of £25 into your bank account through the scheme, if the payments are activated in your specific region more than once over a five-month period.

The scheme operates from 1 November to 31 March.

Individuals receiving these six benefits may be eligible for the payment into their bank account:

• Pension Credit
• Income Support
• Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)
• Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
• Universal Credit
• Support for Mortgage Interest

Given the escalating cost of living, one question is whether the £25 amount should be increased. Matthew Sheeran, external relations manager at finance support group Money Wellness, cautioned that £25 “just doesn’t go very far anymore”, reports the Express.

He stated: “Energy bills are still high, and for many households, that amount barely scratches the surface of a week’s heating costs. Increasing it to around £40 or £50 would make a much more meaningful difference for people trying to keep their homes warm.”

Raising the payments to £40 would result in an additional £15 being disbursed each time, whilst increasing it to £50 would add £25 to the payments.

When do Cold Weather Payments go out?

Regarding when Cold Weather Payments arrive in accounts, information on the Government website explains: “After each period of very cold weather in your area, you should get a payment within 14 working days. It’s paid into the same bank or building society account as your benefit payments.”

If you live in Scotland, the payments scheme has been replaced with the Winter Heating Payment, which has largely the same qualifying rules in terms of what benefits you need to claim.

This is a one-off amount that goes out regardless of the weather conditions, and is worth £59.75. Payments go out between December and the end of February.

Sudden energy bills increase

One concerning recent development for bill payers is the rising price of oil in light of the Iran war. This has already significantly increased the price of heating oil.

Mr Sheeran said the sudden price increase is “really worrying”.

He said: “They’ve jumped massively in a very short space of time because of the conflict in the Middle East, with most quotes now more than double what they were just weeks ago. In some areas, a typical 500 litre delivery is hundreds of pounds more expensive than before.

“That’s a huge hit for the millions of households off the gas grid who rely on oil for heat and hot water. And they’re not protected by the energy price cap, so every crude oil spike feeds straight through to their bills.”

The consumer expert offered some advice for those affected by this sudden rise in their expenses. He stated: “If you’re in that position, it’s worth seeing if you can join a local oil buying group to get a better price, check whether you qualify for schemes like the Warm Home Discount or the Household Support Fund, and ask your supplier about spreading the cost. But this sudden squeeze really highlights how vulnerable offgrid and rural households are when energy prices go up.”

The DWP has announced a £295 boost for nearly four million Universal Credit households on the standard rate, with welfare reforms set to come into force in April

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has unveiled a new £295 boost as part of a package of reforms it claims are intended to encourage more people into employment. The announcement follows Labour’s commitment to invest over £3.5 billion in employment support by the end of the decade.

The Government stated it is dedicated to tackling the cost of living, and the new welfare changes will see nearly four million households on the standard rate of Universal Credit receive the first sustained above-inflation rise to the benefit. The increase is worth approximately £295 extra this year in cash terms for a single person aged 25 or over, climbing to £760 by the end of the decade, and means those who are seeking and in work will have more money in their pocket as they look to get into and progress at work.

At present, the monthly standard allowance for single people in this age bracket is £400.14, but this rate will increase to £424.90 from April, giving claimants an additional £24.76 per month, or roughly £295 more annually.

Conversely, as part of the welfare reforms taking effect in April, the DWP is also introducing a lower Universal Credit health element rate of £217.26 per month for new claimants, reports the Express.

The Office for National Statistics estimated the unemployment rate for people aged 16 and over stood at 5.1 percent between September and November last year, up from 4.4 percent during the same period in 2024. The DWP stated that at present “people receiving Universal Credit for health reasons are paid more than twice as much as a single person looking for work and aren’t given the support to move closer to, or into, jobs”

It further explained: “The reforms – coming into force in April – will tackle these perverse incentives by introducing a lower Universal Credit health element rate of £217.26 per month for new claimants, compared to the higher rate of £429.80.

“Those with the most severe, lifelong conditions, those nearing end of life, and all existing Universal Credit health claimants will continue to receive the higher rate.”

Work and Pensions Secretary Pat McFadden commented: “The benefits system we inherited was rigged with the wrong incentives and wrote people off instead of backing them.

“These reforms put more money in the pockets of working people on Universal Credit, whilst ensuring those who can work get the support they need to do so.

“By boosting the standard allowance and investing in proper employment support, we’re building a welfare system that rewards work and offers people a route to a better future.”

State Pensioners will see a 4.8% increase from April 2026, with the amount depending on when you retired and your National Insurance record

State Pensioners across the UK will see a financial uplift in 2026 as new payment rates come into effect from April.

The State Pension rises at the beginning of every new tax year in April, and the rate of increase is determined by the highest of three factors – known as the ‘triple lock’. These are the consumer price index (CPI) measure of inflation (measured for September in the previous year), average wage growth between May and July of the previous year, or 2.5 percent.

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has confirmed the new rates from April, with the State Pension set to rise by 4.8 percent in line with average wage growth – the highest out of the triple lock factors, above inflation and the 2.5 percent minimum floor for increases.

This 4.8 percent increase means that pensioners who receive the full new State Pension will be £575 better off per year from April 6 when the new rates take effect.

However, as the UK’s State Pension system is divided into two schemes – basic and new – the amount that pension payments will increase from April 6, 2026, depends on when you retired and your National Insurance record, reports the Express.

1. Basic State Pension

Men born before April 6, 1951, and women born before April 6, 1953, receive the basic State Pension and will see their pensions increase by 4.8 percent from April.

This means the full basic State Pension will rise from £176.45 to £184.90 per week, giving pensioners a weekly payment increase of £8.45.

Over a full year, this would equate to a total of £9,614.80 in pension payments (up from £9.175. 40), providing those receiving the full rate an additional £439.40 annually.

Naturally, you need to have a certain number of qualifying years of National Insurance to receive this full amount. For men, this is typically 30 qualifying years if you were born between 1945 and 1951, or 44 qualifying years if you were born before 1945.

For women, you’ll require 30 qualifying years if you were born between 1950 and 1953, or 39 qualifying years if you were born before 1950.

If you have fewer than the full number of qualifying National Insurance years, then your basic State Pension will be less than £184.90 per week from April 2026.

2. New State Pension

Men born on or after 6 April 1951, and women born on or after 6 April 1953, are eligible to claim the new State Pension once you reach State Pension age, which is currently 66.

People claiming this pension will also see their payments increase by 4.8 percent from April, with the full rate rising from £230.25 per week to £241.30 in 2026.

Over a full year, this amounts to a total of £12,547.60 in pension payments (up from (£11,973), giving pensioners on the full rate an extra £574.60 annually.

HM Treasury stated: “Thanks to our commitment to the pension Triple Lock for this parliament, pensioners on the full new State Pension across the UK are set to receive an extra £575 a year, which they’ll start seeing from April 2026.”

3. Pension Credit

The standard minimum guarantee for Pension Credit is also increasing by 4.8 percent from April. This benefit provides additional funds to those over State Pension age and on a low income to assist with living expenses.

From April, the single weekly rate will rise from £227.10 per week to £238, giving claimants an extra £10.90 each week, or £566.80 more per year.

The joint weekly rate is increasing from £346.60 per week to £363.25 from April, providing claimants with an additional £16.65 each week, or £865.80 extra annually.

The DWP has confirmed most legacy benefit claimants have now moved to Universal Credit, with migration notices continuing to be sent to remaining claimants ahead of March 2026 deadline

The DWP has issued an update regarding a significant benefits change concerning Universal Credit. The department has been dispatching letters to specific claimants about the matter.

Millions of individuals receiving older benefits being phased out in favour of Universal Credit have been progressively transferred to the new system. The process of transitioning people from these former payments, referred to as ‘legacy benefits’, has been taking place in phases over several years.

The vast majority of recipients have now switched to Universal Credit. The DWP had previously confirmed that certain benefits would cease at the end of March 2026 as part of the initiative, reports the Mirror.

Recipients of these six legacy benefits have been transferred as part of the migration programme:

• Income-based Jobseekers Allowance
• Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
• Income Support
• Housing Benefit
• Child Tax Credit
• Working Tax Credit

The DWP was approached for an update on the initiative and who remains to be moved to Universal Credit.

A DWP spokesperson stated: “The department has been migrating people from legacy benefits to Universal Credit since 2022 and most have now moved. Help is at hand for those making the move to Universal Credit, including our dedicated helpline, guidance on gov.uk, and the Citizens Advice’s free and independent Help to Claim service.

“All legacy benefit claimants who have received a migration notice continue to receive their legacy benefit up until the point they move over to Universal Credit, or the deadline passes.”

These migration notices are correspondence sent out inviting recipients to apply for Universal Credit. You typically need to submit your application for the new benefit within three months, enabling you to begin receiving payments through the scheme.

Once the deadline passes, your payments through your existing benefit will cease.

The DWP provides an ‘enhanced support journey’ to assist more vulnerable claimants on Employment and Support Allowance, and on Income Support, with the transition. This can include telephone calls and even a home visit to help you complete your application and transfer across.

The department has also pledged that if you transfer over and your circumstances remain unchanged, your benefit entitlement will remain the same when you are on Universal Credit.

Over 100,000 requests have been made to the DWP’s digital Proof of Benefit service which allows people to download or request a letter confirming their benefits to access discounts on broadband and council tax

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has released a fresh update regarding an online service designed to assist individuals in saving money.

Since its inception in September 2025, the digital Proof of Benefit service has received over 100,000 requests.

This service enables users to download or request a letter confirming their benefits without the need to make a phone call or visit a Jobcentre.

Such a letter can facilitate savings from social tariffs on broadband to council tax reductions, as many organisations require proof of benefits before discounts can be accessed.

The service encompasses eight benefits: Employment and Support Allowance (ESA), Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA), Personal Independence Payment (PIP), Disability Living Allowance (DLA), State Pension, Pension Credit, and Attendance Allowance, reports the Mirror.

Minister for Transformation, Andrew Western stated: “We are modernising DWP services, so they work better for everyone.

“This new 24/7 digital service is a great example of this, putting people firmly at the centre, giving them instant access to vital support when they need it.

“This is just the start of how we’re transforming DWP for the better – modernising DWP services to work around people’s lives – not the other way round.”

Future enhancements will enable customers to view payment information, report certain changes online and receive tailored support.

This comes as the DWP is transitioning from some older legacy benefits to Universal Credit.

Universal Credit has taken the place of most Tax Credits, Income Support, income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance and Housing Benefit claims. However, you can still claim Housing Benefit if you reside in supported or temporary accommodation.

Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) is also being phased out in favour of Universal Credit, with the DWP aiming to have all claimants transferred by March 31, 2026.

If you’re an income-related ESA claimant, you should have received your “migration notice” detailing the transition process in the final months of last year.

This “migration notice” provides a three-month deadline for transitioning to Universal Credit – beyond this point, your existing benefits will cease.

According to the DWP, 55 percent of individuals will be financially better off on Universal Credit, whilst 35 percent will be worse off. The remaining claimants will see no change.

If you’re set to be worse off under Universal Credit, you’ll receive monthly transition payments to cover any shortfall.

This transitional protection remains in place until there’s no difference between your new Universal Credit award and what you previously received under legacy benefits.

However, these transitional payments are only available if you wait to be transferred through the “managed migration” process.