**Millions Set for Major Changes as DWP Announces End of Six Legacy Benefits by 2026**
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has confirmed that it will complete the transition away from six long-standing ‘legacy’ benefits by March 2026, with millions of claimants required to move on to Universal Credit or risk losing their financial support. This sweeping change is part of the DWP’s ongoing efforts to simplify the benefits system, with the final phase now well underway across the United Kingdom.
Over recent years, the government has been steadily preparing to migrate benefit recipients onto Universal Credit, a system introduced in 2013 that combines several older payments into one. This process, referred to by officials as ‘managed migration’, means people currently receiving certain specific benefits will need to act to ensure uninterrupted support.
The legacy benefits scheduled for closure include Child Tax Credit, Working Tax Credit, income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA), Income Support, income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA), and Housing Benefit. While the consolidation is being touted as a move towards a simpler system, campaigners and benefit users have raised concerns about the potential for disruption and financial difficulty, particularly for more vulnerable households.
Individuals affected by these changes will receive an official ‘migration notice’ from the DWP, informing them that they must apply for Universal Credit. If recipients fail to respond within three months, their current benefit payments could be stopped. This requirement places an onus on claimants to engage with what some describe as a complicated application process, causing anxiety for those who rely heavily on these payments.
The transitional timeline has already picked up pace in 2024. In the spring, the DWP began issuing migration notices to those on Income Support, as well as households in receipt of Income Support with Housing Benefit, and Tax Credit claimants who also receive Housing Benefit. As the summer progressed, further migration notices were sent to claimants relying solely on Housing Benefit, followed by those on Employment Support Allowance combined with Child Tax Credits.
Notably, individuals receiving Tax Credits who are over state pension age were directed to apply for either Universal Credit or Pension Credit in August 2024. Later in the year, those who rely on income-based JSA or income-related ESA (without receiving Child Tax Credits) became the focus of migration efforts.
A significant acceleration has also been announced for recipients of income-related ESA, either alone or in combination with Housing Benefit. Originally, their movement to Universal Credit was scheduled for 2028 or later, but they are now being contacted from September 2024, with the DWP aiming to have all such claimants notified by December 2025.
By March 2026, the ambition is for all current legacy benefit claimants to have moved to the Universal Credit system, at which point the older forms of support will be abolished entirely. The government stresses that this coordinated approach is intended to avoid gaps in support for most people, but acknowledges that prompt action will be crucial to avoid loss of payments.
As this transition enters its final phase, advocacy groups are urging recipients to keep a close eye on official correspondence and to seek help if they are unsure about the process. While Universal Credit is designed to be more streamlined and responsive than the benefits it replaces, confusion and concern persist, especially among the elderly and disabled.
The DWP maintains that it is contacting all claimants well ahead of any changes, but individuals who believe they might be affected are encouraged to visit the official government website or consult with advice agencies such as Citizens Advice for tailored guidance.
With the end of legacy benefits drawing near, millions in the UK are being reminded that prompt action will be essential to secure ongoing support during this unprecedented overhaul of the welfare system.