The DWP has announced in a bulletin sent to local authorities that it is planning to begin notifying employment and support (ESA) claimants that they need to move to universal credit (UC) in September 2024, with the aim of notifying everyone affected to make the move by December 2025.
The announcement means that the move is likely to begin before any election takes place. An incoming government could still put the process on hold if they chose, but clearly there will be considerable resistance from the DWP to yet another change of timetable.. Especially as we revealed earlier this week, the DWP is expecting to save £5 billion due to the high number of claimants who will fail to complete the forced migration from legacy benefits to universal credit.
The affected claimant will be income-related ESA claimants and also ESA with housing benefit claimants. Previously, migration of these groups was not scheduled to take place until 2028.
According to the LA Welfare Direct Bulletin:
"On Friday 19 April 2024, the Prime Minister made a speech that included the announcement to accelerate the movement of Employment Support Allowance (ESA) and ESA with HB claimants to UC.
“Many claimants will be better off on UC than legacy benefits and we estimate around half of our ESA and ESA with HB claimants would receive over £100 a month more on UC. Claimants will also be able to benefit from improved work incentives and enhanced labour market support for those who want it.
“Our delivery approach and timelines will be informed by detailed planning and engagement with stakeholders, but our current planning assumption is that we would begin notifying this group in September 2024, with the aim of notifying everyone to make the move by December 2025.
“A new Move to UC communications campaign launched in March 2024 to help prepare claimants with other benefit combinations for their move to UC. The campaign is running nationally and is being delivered through radio, paid search (Google and Bing), outdoor advertising (bus stops and billboards), digital and social media advertising.
“The campaign aims to tackle claimant fear and anxiety about moving to Universal Credit, using the headline ‘Keep things smooth by making the move to Universal Credit’. Advertising also signposts to www.gov.uk/ucmove, which is a new website containing supportive information, real life case studies and advice on how to prepare for the move.”
Members can download our 28 page document “ESA to UC - A guide to migration” which explains the process for migrating to UC and what you can do now to prepare for managed migration.
Many thanks to the Rightsnet website for welfare rights workers for flagging this up.
UPDATE 21 May 2024: Half ESA claimants will be £100 better off on UC
The DWP confirmed the new migration timetable in the 17 May edition of the departmental newsletter “Touchbase”.
The newsletter also claimed that half of ESA claimants will be better off as a result of the forced move:
“Many customers will be better off on UC compared to legacy benefits and we estimate around half of our ESA and ESA with Housing Benefit customers would receive over £100 a month more on UC. Customers will also be able to benefit from improved work incentives and enhanced labour market support for those who want it.”
The timetable was further confirmed in a written ministerial statement by Jo Churchill, DWP minister for employment, on 21 May. The minister also claimed that the Treasury is providing additional funds to allow the accelerated transfer. Churchill repeated the claim that around half of ESA claimants will be £100 a month better off on UC.
You can read the ministers statement here.
