The DWP estimate that around 440,000 legacy benefit claimants will be forced to migrate to universal credit in 2024-2025. This number will not include claimants on income-related employment and support allowance (irESA) who are not due to be migrated until 2028, at the earliest.

The estimate was provided in a written parliamentary answer earlier this month DWP employment minister Jo Churchill.

The figures are:

  • ESA income based (and Child Tax Credits)  90,000
  • Income support  110,000
  • Tax Credit & Housing Benefit  120,000
  • Tax Credit only  10,000
  • Housing Benefit only  100,000
  • JSA income based  20,000

Claimants who receive employment and support allowance (ESA) with child tax credits will receive mandatory migration notices to move to universal credit between July and September 2024.

If you receive irESA only or irESA with housing benefit, you can expect to be asked to migrate to UC in 2028 or 2029.   If you receive  contribution-based ESA without any legacy benefits, you will not be affected by managed migration.

Benefits and Work has updated our ESA to UC migration materials.

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  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    · 2 months ago
    Will you migrate to UC if you are on pension credits, or is it just those below pensionable age
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    · 7 months ago
    Will you migrate to u.c if on con. ESA and in support group . 
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 6 months ago
      @Ann . Yes that's. What they mean by everyone's going to be on uc by end of December 2025
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    · 7 months ago
    I was told that remaining people on legacy benefits like ESA income based no tax credits just HB will now be brought forward to end of 2025 don't know if this is true or not if someone can answer this.  I think everything can change depending who wins general election this year. It's all worrying.  The sick and disabled seems to be getting targeted all the time.   They have to blame someone.
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    · 8 months ago
    The article says it will not include irESA and then says 90000 on irESA will be migrated, I am confused.
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 7 months ago
      @Chris I take that to mean people on irESA <b>and</b> Child Tax Credit, not people on irESA only, or irESA & HB.
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    · 8 months ago
    Will you get less money under UC than Housing Benefit? And less money than ESA. When I was transferred from Tax Credits at the time UC was introduced I received less money. I'm wondering if they will find a way to do it with every benefit. Maybe they will just work it out a different way so you end up with less.
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    · 8 months ago
    Sorry guys for my comments I don't trust them 
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    · 8 months ago
    The politicians are once again on about cutting working age related benefits for the disabled  to cut out national insurance. From September before next general election 
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    · 8 months ago
    I’m also in support group 
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    · 8 months ago
    I’m receiving esa paid through my contributions, Scottish adp and Scottish pip.   I have been on these for a couple of years since being off my work.    I’m not unemployed as I’m still employed by my employer.   I don’t receive rent or any other benefits.  I’m worried like everyone on here and was wondering how this will affect myself?  Can anyone say 
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    · 8 months ago
    I’m on ESA support group and I’ve received a letter which includes my 2 private pensions but it’s saying I’m still entitled to ESA then on next page it says to report changes ie if conditions worsen or get better also to report husband or partners income/savings ??  I’ve never been asked about the latter before, I’m confused. 
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    · 9 months ago
    Geremy hunt wanted to bring forward esa claimints going on to universal credit from 2025 instead of 2028 his comments were everyone with anxiety and depression would be better of in work because it would help then it said he wanted to do this as they would get regular help with a work coach , it says also now he may I quote may have put it on hold because they cannot afford to do it. This was printed in the sun newspaper online .   
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 8 months ago
      @Holly Holly, Thank god i'll be retired in 2025, it's just been decades of jumping through hoops of hell, non stop.

      Hopefully it will be 2028, but not sure how this holds if Labour get in.  I can only assume or guess that Labour will just re-brand what the Nasty Tory party has been doing over the last 14 years.
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 8 months ago
      @Holly @Holly yes I just read it today theirs just to many people to get threw in such a short time must be 2 million at least so just enjoy the last bit of peace and quiet like I’m doing I’m dreading the move to uc myself my friend is on it she says it’s just constant threats and sanctions 
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    · 9 months ago
    I am on income support and carers allowance will I have to go to a job coach also wish they left things the way they were 
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    · 9 months ago
    Im confused! I. get iresa, & pip since 2013 due to disabilities and am. in my early 60’s. My esa runs for renewal in 2025 but with the benefit raise due April I got letter saying new rates will be blah blah &  will will run from april to november 2024..could this be cos they plan merging me to uc? cos thats the first time ive only had esa run for few months? asking as was led to believe that ireasa with housing benefit migrated around 2028?
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    · 9 months ago
    How do you know if you are on IR ESA?  is it on esa letters,,it confuses me.........
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 8 months ago
      @Jlee Hi Jlee,

      I'm on IR ESA, but on bank statements it says EESA ?

      Confusing right ?


  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    · 9 months ago
    What about people on Income related ESA who get PIP & HB whose partners get Carers Allowance Housing Benefit or Income Support top up for being full time carer. Does this count as being Income Related and HB? 

    Does this count as migration or non migration?
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 9 months ago
      @Rach Income support is a legacy benefit, unfortunately you will be migrated. 
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    · 9 months ago
    Me and my partner have just had to migrate over from tax credits my partner works I get pip they said I had to get a sick note as I’m not on sickness  benifit never claimed when I left work through ill health the doctor gave me a 13 week sick note but that caused a change in circumstances so we are entitled to nothing now so much for you won’t be any worse of  we £460 a month because I can’t get sickness benifit because my national insurance contribution ran out over 2 year ago so don’t believe when they say you will be no worse off 
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 9 months ago
      @That’s life Can you not make a claim for lcwra? You will need a work capability assessment first. 
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    · 9 months ago
    Whatever DWP are up to with these changes it likely will be to their monetary benefit and claimants less better off. Also the aim globally is to get all claimants and unemployed onto a Universal Income because AI robots will take over majority of jobs. Hence humans are not of much value anymore. This is my view.
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    · 9 months ago
    They were told and warned not to introduce UC at the beginning..  that it would fall foul.. bet thats the words they needed to hear to press ahead.. So they could totally bamboozle us. I dread the day I'm forced onto it. It needs scrapped and fast. It's the absolute worst thing in a very long line of worst things they've drummed up. 
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    · 9 months ago
    Can someone clarify my situation, and advise if I will be migrating anytime soon? I'm on CB esa and my partner gets working tax credit and has deferred his state pension. Any advice would be much appreciated. 
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 8 months ago
      @Chris' Hi I’m on support group contribution based, the letter says I can still claim even though I have 2 small private pensions but then it’s asking for info on partners income/savings I wasn’t aware this affected  C based ESA I don’t understand it 
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 9 months ago
      @Rach Yes youre on the list this year or next sorry x
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 9 months ago
      @Chris' Income support, income based esa working tax credits housing benefit income based jsa. Cant remember the last one 
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 9 months ago
      @Jen  Sorry not sure but cb esa claimants dont migrate tax credits will your partner will migrate. 
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 9 months ago
      @Chris' Same. I get PIP and partner gets Income Support and Carers Allowance. It is unclear whether these are being migrated sooner...You just feel stressed all the time! 
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    · 9 months ago
    Hi on pip, wtc and wage whilst partner on jsc (came from invalidity onto incapacity then jsc) also on pip. When are we expected to go onto uc. Not on housing benefit and no kids.

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