**Millions Face Transition as Six Key DWP Benefits Set for Closure Within a Year**
Millions of people across the UK are being warned to prepare for dramatic changes, as the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) continues its extensive overhaul of the benefit system. This wide-reaching reform will see six long-standing benefits – known as ‘legacy benefits’ – entirely phased out over the next year. The government’s push to move all claimants onto Universal Credit is now accelerating, impacting households throughout Wales and the wider United Kingdom.
The transition forms part of an ongoing “managed migration” process that formally began with the introduction of Universal Credit in 2013. Over the past few years, this scheme has been gradually expanding; however, 2024 and 2025 will see the most significant raft of changes to date. The DWP has ramped up the pace of notifications, urging many to act swiftly if they wish to maintain a continuous income.
The legacy benefits now slated for discontinuation include Child Tax Credit, Working Tax Credit, Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance, Income Support, Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA), and Housing Benefit. Individuals in receipt of one or more of these must respond to official DWP migration notices within the timescale set out—usually three months—or risk the cessation of their benefit payments. Universal Credit, designed as a single monthly payment to simplify the benefits landscape, will become the sole route for support.
Among those most immediately affected are recipients of tax credits. According to recent DWP guidance, tax credit payments will end in April 2025. Letters detailing the necessary steps for each claimant are being issued, with clear instructions to make a new claim under Universal Credit if they wish to avoid an interruption in financial support.
In a notable development, the planned migration of approximately 800,000 people currently claiming income-related ESA (often alongside Housing Benefit) has been brought forward. This group was not expected to transition until at least 2028/29 but is now being fast-tracked into the managed migration window, with notifications already being dispatched from September 2024. By December 2025, the DWP aims to have contacted every individual in this category.
Key milestones have been outlined by the DWP to clarify the process. In April 2024, households on Income Support, and certain combinations with Housing Benefit or Tax Credits, began receiving formal migration notices. By June, this was extended to those reliant solely on Housing Benefit. July saw notifications sent to those on Employment and Support Allowance paired with Child Tax Credits. Meanwhile, in August, tax credit claimants who have reached state pension age were advised on their choices between Universal Credit and Pension Credit.
September 2024 marked the next wave, as income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance recipients, and claimants of income-related ESA not previously covered, started to receive migration instructions. The government has confirmed its intention to complete the notification process for the entire ESA-only cohort by December 2025, marking a significant acceleration and compressing the originally proposed timeline by several years.
The DWP’s ambitious schedule sets March 2026 as the final deadline for the closure of all legacy benefits. After this date, anybody still in need of support must have moved over to Universal Credit. The government argues that this simplification will help streamline the system, reduce administrative errors, and ensure that assistance reaches those most in need more efficiently.
However, the transition has not been without criticism or concern. Advocacy groups warn that some vulnerable individuals may struggle to respond within the prescribed timeframe, risking gaps in support or administrative difficulties. The government advises all those affected to read their DWP correspondence carefully and to seek help if unsure about the next steps, as failure to act could result in loss of income.
As the managed migration gathers pace, claimants are urged to stay alert for any official DWP notifications and act decisively. Additional support and information are available through government helplines, local advice centres, and online resources. With all legacy benefits set to be scrapped by March 2026, the coming year marks a period of significant upheaval for Britain’s welfare landscape.