Hundreds of thousands of people have lost their DWP benefits after failing to meet an important deadline. The department is gradually moving millions of claimants over to Universal Credit from other ‘legacy’ benefits.
These are benefits that are being scrapped and include Housing Benefit and tax credits. Everyone receiving a legacy benefit will be sent a migration notice through the post letting them know they have three months to take action.
As of the end of September 2024, almost 319,000 adults had their benefits removed after failing to move over to Universal Credit, meaning they fell off the benefits roll. Critics have suggest many of these people may not have understood what they needed to do.
READ MORE: Huge state pension change to impact everyone born after this date
Get our best money saving tips and hacks by signing up to our newsletter
It comes as another deadline recently passed. Claimants of income-based Jobseekers Allowance, Employment and Support Allowance and Housing Benefit were among those sent migration notices from September.
That meant they had until December to be signed up to Universal Credit and ensure their payments continued. It’s likely more people will have had their benefits stopped after failing to apply in time.
Tax credits is one of the next benefits being cancelled. Payments will stop for good from April, though many claimants have already been moved off tax credits. The process has represented a huge overhaul to the UK’s benefits system.
Sir Stephen Timms, Minister for Social Security and Disability, said: “We are committed to ensuring a smooth transition and customers will have the full support of DWP staff to help manage this change.”