The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has issued a stark warning to 400,000 households still receiving income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) that they must switch to Universal Credit by March 2026 or risk losing their payments. The accelerated deadline, brought forward by more than two years, is part of the Government's drive to phase out legacy benefits.
Under the managed migration process, claimants who receive a migration letter have just three months to act or face termination of their existing benefits. The DWP has confirmed that no extensions will be granted for those who miss the deadline, and more than 380,000 people have already lost benefits after failing to respond to similar notices.
The DWP is now sending around 83,000 migration letters each month and expects to have contacted all remaining ESA claimants by September 2025. To date, 200,000 ESA claimants have already moved to Universal Credit, leaving 400,000 households yet to transition. The department insists the accelerated schedule allows sufficient time for households to adjust.
ESA is paid to individuals unable to work due to long-term illness or disability. The DWP encourages all recipients to respond promptly to migration notices to ensure continuous financial support. Citizens Advice offers a free Help to Claim service online, and the DWP promotes benefit calculators to help claimants understand their new entitlements.
