The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has issued a final, urgent call to tens of thousands of benefit claimants across Great Britain, warning that time is running out to secure their financial support.
The April Deadline for Legacy Benefits
Two long-standing benefits, Income Support and Jobseeker's Allowance, are set to be completely phased out and replaced by Universal Credit. The DWP has confirmed that the final switchover is scheduled for April 1, 2026. The government department is now sending out what are known as 'Migration Notice' letters to those still receiving these legacy benefits, setting a strict personal deadline to apply.
Sir Stephen Timms, the Minister for Social Security and Disability, has stressed the critical importance of these letters, urging recipients not to 'ignore it'. Failure to claim Universal Credit by the date specified in the letter will result in all existing benefit payments being stopped.
Who is Affected and What You Need to Do
Despite previous government expectations that these benefits would have no remaining claimants by now, a report highlighted by the Independent indicated that as many as 80,000 people were still claiming them as recently as February 2025. If you receive a migration letter, you must apply for Universal Credit online via the GOV.UK website before your personal deadline.
The application process requires you to:
- Set up a Universal Credit account online.
- Complete the full claim within 28 days of creating the account.
- Have key details to hand, including bank account information, an email address, and phone access.
- Be prepared to verify your identity using documents like a passport, driving licence, or payslip.
Financial Implications and Protection
According to official DWP guidance, most people moving onto Universal Credit will receive at least the same amount they got from their previous benefits, and some may even get more. Your payment will consist of a standard allowance plus any additional elements you are eligible for, such as support for housing, children, or caring responsibilities.
The current standard monthly allowances for Universal Credit are:
- £316.98 for single claimants under 25.
- £400.14 for single claimants aged 25 or over.
- £497.55 for a couple where both are under 25.
- £628.10 for a couple where one or both are 25 or over.
A crucial warning concerns 'transitional protection'. This is a top-up payment designed to ensure no one receives less on Universal Credit than they did on their legacy benefit. However, this protection is only available if you claim by the deadline in your migration letter. If you miss this date but apply later, you will not qualify for this financial safeguard.
For those unsure about how the change will affect them, tools like the Policy in Practice better off calculator can provide an estimate, though they may not account for all potential deductions.
The message from the DWP is clear: this is the final stage of a long-planned migration. Claimants must act promptly upon receiving their letter to ensure their income is protected and to avoid a sudden and complete loss of financial support from April onwards.
