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.