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Over a quarter of UC migrations have failed so far

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Over a quarter of all the households sent a universal credit (UC) mandatory migration notice up to May 2024 failed to make a claim and had their legacy benefits stopped, according to figures released by the DWP this week. There are concerns about the time lag between claims failing and the release of statistics.

According to the managed migration statistics, between July 2022 and May 2024:

Individuals

migration notices sent  1,044,096

number claimed UC  735,159    

percentage claimed UC  70%

not claimed & legacy benefits closed  307,217

percentage not claimed and legacy benefits closed  29%

Households

migration notices sent  708,091

number claimed UC  516,108

percentage claimed UC  73%

not claimed & legacy benefits closed  190,727

percentage not claimed and legacy benefits closed  27%

The DWP stress that “the majority of migration notices had been sent to tax credit households whose likelihood of claiming UC and receiving transitional protection may be different from DWP legacy benefit customers.”

In other words, the percentage of ESA claims that fail may be different to the percentage of claims that have failed so far.  The DWP are clearly implying that they may be lower, but the reality is that nobody knows because, if any research has been done, it has not been published.

And even ongoing statistics like these may fail to raise any alarms until far too late.

This is because a claim is only recorded as failed after allowing for a three month claim period and an additional month in which transitional protection would be considered if a claim was completed in this period.  This means there is a four month time lag, plus the time needed to compile, check and publish the statistics.

According to the DWP, the majority of of ESA claimants will be transferred between the beginning of February 2025 and the end of November 2025.

But the first statistics may not be available until June or, more probably, July 2025.  If they show a significant failure rate, by the time the DWP establish the cause and attempt to remedy it, it is likely that the migration will be virtually over.

It demonstrates, yet again, how unreasonable this headlong rush to migrate ESA claimants to UC really is.

Readers can contact the free Help To Claim service here and members can download our 50 page guide to “Successful ESA to UC Managed Migration”, from the ESA/UC Guides page.

If you have begun or completed your mandatory migration, please share your experience with other readers here.

 

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  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    moose
    · 13 days ago
    Guys, the dreaded brown envelope dropped on my door mat today. Been asked to migrate to Universal Credit. Been shaking the whole day. Have not been in work since 1995 due to fainting for some unknown reason for up to 5 times a day. Have had every test going, where do I even start? Will be 60 end of this year. All this started when I was in 2nd year medical school. Had to leave and have not managed to do anything ever since. I feel frozen with fear as I don’t think any employer will tolerate me fainting up to 5 times or more. 
    Anyway, just wanted to share my little story. 
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      Poppy
      · 3 days ago
      @moose I take it you was getting ESA income related? How are you getting on with this  basically your decision can't be changed until an assessment is done. So don't worry it's just basically setting up an online account. Work out the best time for yourself with current payments.  It's not an assessment remember to enter into the journal you're transferring from other benefits 
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    alan
    · 1 months ago
    will those people due to retire still be forced on uc
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      Poppy
      · 3 days ago
      @alan No you can't claim Universal Credit as a pensioner.
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      sara
      · 28 days ago
      @A I Agree, A. It would be so much more effective to put the resources into helping people who have a real chance of working long term.
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      alan
      · 28 days ago
      @A Thank you for your reply, yes i am very close to retirement cannot wait to get these monkeys of my back, i feel sorry for the younger generation who will be tormented big time on uc, this is heading one way, soon they will be doing away with sickness benefit altogether,  just wait and see.
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      A
      · 29 days ago
      @sara To me, anyone who's 60 and older should not be hassled with migration, fit notes, assessments, meetings and interviews, phone calls and text messages, and job search, and therefore should be left in peace. No one is going to employ someone who's 60 or older, unless they're medical doctors with 20 years of experience and insignificant employment gaps.

      Alan,

      You're lucky, as you're soon free from the never-ending nonsense and mental torture of the DWP. Don't stress out yourself too much even if they ask you to migrate, as you'll soon be out of their stressful and inhumane trap.
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      sara
      · 1 months ago
      @alan That's how I see it, but my suspicion is it will become an issue like the demand for fit notes and work commitments from support group esa.
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    Izzy
    · 1 months ago
    My transistion is not going well. I checked what I am due to be paid, I have been overcharged for savings, I have not had my rent factored in and no transitional payment. I have had unncessary visits to the job centre and I was in ESA support group, severe disability premium. I have found it extremely anxiety provoking and it is now making my other conditions worse.
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    Jamie
    · 1 months ago
    What does the DWP think these people are going to do for money?  If they have not claimed there is obviously a reason for not doing so, they cant all have had a lottery win.

    Does the DWP not care that some who have not made the transition through whatever reason might end up obtaining money through other means. Illegal mean even, be it shop lifting. Its just going to have a knock on effect in society and there will be a bigger problem involving more government depts/services. Its false economy when you think of it. 
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      Bronc
      · 1 months ago
      @Jamie If so many people have failed the UC transition what on earth are they living off?
      Are we due to see a huge spike in people suffering malnutrition in this country the fifth richest in the world?
      This Labour government of red tories are an absolute disgrace devoid of any moral compass.
      We need a new political party which genuinely represents ordinary people unlike all the others which are beholden to big money interests to some degree.
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      Jane
      · 1 months ago
      @keepingitreal Tap into your Trust fund, and if you don't have a trust fund it is your fault for not choosing wealthy parents I think
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      keepingitreal
      · 1 months ago
      @Jonno @Jonno "All they had to do was to have dedicated caring specialist advisors within job centres..."

      Ah Jonno, in the world as we know it could and should be - the money properly and effectively allocated.
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      Jonno
      · 1 months ago
      @keepingitreal Exactly, the benefits system before UC was complex because people's needs are complex and multifaceted.

      They didn't have to change the system.

      All they had to do was to have dedicated caring specialist advisors within job centres specifically for each and every particular benefit to help vulnerable people with the forms and the claims process.

      They could even have provided home visits for people who couldn't attend JCP and opened dedicated phone lines that were free and that you got through to quickly.

      Instead billions have been spent on a system that is not fit for purpose.


    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      keepingitreal
      · 1 months ago
      @Jamie Ok, let's try again.

      It's total false economy when you think that once esa claimants have been migrated correctly they will have the same money (or more in some cases) and the same (ie little or no) work commitment as before. Any savings made by the state with the erosion of transitional protection will be balanced or overtaken by the extra costs of the process. Already millions of £s have been poured into additional dwp staffing and extending the help to claim service.

      Makes you wonder what is the point of the whole exercise. It's just not possible to standardise the system and shoehorn everyone into the same benefit . It might be called universal credit, but there are so many different elements according to health/employment/family circumstances it's just nonsense to pretend it's a new and streamlined system. Ian Duncan Smith's monstrous vision is well out of control.
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    Julie
    · 1 months ago
    Does anybody know or have any advice on what to do if the advance they gave is not enough. Was given a advance when I migrated but it's not even half of entitlement. Once rent paid and food and my transport costs I'm destitute. Not due pip for another 2 weeks. When I called they told me that's the max I can get but I've heard people saying they got more when things was verified. According to them my lwrca has been verified by esa and housing and childs disability is verified but still no more advance this system is so bad and really gets people in a hole. It's gonna be a very long 2 weeks till get pip.
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      karen robson68
      · 1 months ago
      @Jas Nobody should be without money for weeks and have to borrow what you are entitled to. They could swap people over easy without all this distress and hardship it’s saving 5 was money on millions of poeple disgraceful
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      Jas
      · 1 months ago
      @Julie You can apply for a UC loan through the journal then when your claim has settled they'll take it back gradually over several months. Also speak to Citizens Advice if you have any questions.
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      Anon
      · 1 months ago
      @Julie This is an awful situation and I feel for you. When my sister migrated they told her to see if family could help with food and money or try the food bank at the local church.
      The truth is, the DWP don't really care and won't budge.
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      naheegan
      · 1 months ago
      @Julie Many claimants are having to manage this problem too. It isn't you, it's the welfare system that is failing claimants and leaving them in very difficult situations. 

      I suppose you spoke to someone at the Universal Credit Helpline who told you that you cannot get more advance. These people generally follow a pre-written script, but your job coach is more likely to take your circumstances into consideration and be more helpful. 

      Have you had an interview with your UC work coach yet? Work coaches are a direct way to find out why your advance was less than you actually need, and finding out how you can get more advance money or other emergency help you can apply for. Bring to the interview as much documentation of everything that has been verified and any DWP letters about UC or advances and your latest bank statement -you may not need any or all of it, but being prepared is sensible. You may also need to have your your ID checked at a Jobcentre Plus, so bring it just in case. The government website says that claimants can get an advance "up to" 100% of their monthly UC payment, but not everyone gets 100%. Your work coach may be able to redetermine how much financial help is necessary until your regular UC payments begin.

      Thankfully your rent, food, and transport bills are covered, but you may have to give a reason (or reasons) to your job coach why you need more advance help until your regular UC payments begin. Phone credit, extra needs for a disabled child, a vital home appliance breakdown, internet costs to be online to do required UC activities, personal care items and toiletries, and the costs of utility bills (heating, for example), are some of the reasons that claimants ask for additional UC credit or other financial support during the transition time. 

      Incidentally, from April 2025 the amount of money that can be taken from your standard allowance each month towards repayments will be reduced from 25% to 15%. So those UC claimants who have had advances will repay less monthly, but pay longer to repay the advance. But often that extra few pounds in your pocket makes a huge difference.
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    darinfan
    · 1 months ago
    If I'm reading this right, it's not that the claims failed, but that people didn't make a claim at all.  The letter being sent out is pretty damn clear that you have to do it, so one has to wonder why people aren't simply following the relatively basic instructions.  
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      karen robson68
      · 27 days ago
      @george Thank you for saying that I can’t cope with any forms 
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      MrFibro
      · 1 months ago
      @george It's all done on purpose.
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      george
      · 1 months ago
      @darinfan darinfan people have Many many different types of health problems, they can be physical but also mental health or both , and many people have no one to help them fill in forms , get together medical info and more ! It's not a straightforward or quick process for many and I can't help but feel you have been very ignorant of other people's struggles and unemphatic to put it mildly, you quite took me aback when I read your post .
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    Mr Steez
    · 1 months ago
    all bread and games with this lot! very much deliberate and as we all well know the DWP is a law unto themselves. 
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    DWP
    · 1 months ago
    Disgusted by DWP - they are heartless bunch of B**tard
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    Alex
    · 1 months ago
    What worries me is my letter going missing, what will happen then?
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      alan
      · 27 days ago
      @karen robson68 try not to worry about it i know its difficult, they will be a follow up letter if it went missing or a phone call
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      karen robson68
      · 27 days ago
      @Alex I am worried mine has gone in wrong door if so I won’t get it back and I will miss out on deadline and transitional protection but I can’t bear to phone them
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      Alex
      · 27 days ago
      @A It does, thanks!
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      E
      · 1 months ago
      @Alex They phone you to remind you. 
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      A
      · 1 months ago
      @Alex The first part of my text n my previous comment was left out and not posted! Here it's in full:

      If you don't claim within 7 weeks of receiving your migration notice, you'll receive a reminder letter. And if you have a mobile number, you'll receive a reminder text message if you don't claim within 10 weeks. You've got 12 weeks to claim.

      Hope this will ease your worries.
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    Aw
    · 1 months ago
    I wonder how many people have not realised that they were due TP. An ex of mine didn't bother because she's self-employed and because of the MIF she's not eligible for UC. She was told she wasn't due anything so closed her tax credits and didn't claim UC. At no point did anyone tell she she should have had TP.
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      C
      · 1 months ago
      @Aw There isn't a MIF level with UC if she is LCW or LCWRA
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    MJ
    · 1 months ago
    This has to be planned, they think by doing this so quickly in this unnecessary fashion that a significant percentage will drop out. And it has worked. 
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      alan
      · 1 months ago
      @MJ A few years ago i was sent a decision notice for ESA in feb 2016 scored zero points and my benefit would end 16 april  2016, my medical was on 8 march 2016, i appealed and won, you could not make it up but the DWP can, i still have the letters to prove
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      alan
      · 1 months ago
      @MJ bang on the money, i thought that from day one when dwp brought it forward.
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      MrFibro
      · 1 months ago
      @MJ Agreed.

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