Benefit claimants across the UK are being sent letters reminding them of looming changes to their payments that require immediate action.
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) is ramping up its efforts to move people from legacy benefits to Universal Credit, with thousands more letters being sent in the coming months.
Those receiving these "migration notices" have just three months to submit a Universal Credit claim before their current benefits stop.
Additionally, the DWP has confirmed that benefit payments due on the upcoming bank holiday, May 5, will instead be paid on Friday, May 2.
The DWP is alerting benefit claimants to its latest Universal Credit overhaul
GETTYClaimants affected by either change need to act swiftly to avoid disruption to their payments. The DWP recently confirmed it has hiked the number of migration notices being sent to those on income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA).
While 60,000 letters were sent in February, the department aims to increase this to 83,000. The final round of migration notices for all legacy benefits is set to be sent in September this year.
This accelerated timeline is part of the DWP's plan to complete the migration by March 2026, earlier than the original 2028 deadline.
The department has allocated an extra £15million to its Help-To-Claim initiative to support ESA claimants moving to Universal Credit.
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Benefit claimants are preparing for a massive change to their payments
GETTYOnce claimants receive their migration notice letter, they have three months to submit a claim for Universal Credit. If they don't act within this timeframe, their current benefit claim will be stopped on the exact date specified in the letter.
It typically takes up to five weeks for the first Universal Credit payment to arrive after making a claim. Claimants who apply by the deadline or within one month after it may receive a "transitional element" payment.
This additional payment ensures they are not financially worse off on Universal Credit compared to their legacy benefit at the point of transfer. Missing the final deadline day means losing both legacy benefits and the transitional protection payment.
On top of this, the DWP has issued an important update regarding benefit payments scheduled for the upcoming bank holiday.
In a post on X, the department stated: "Information for claimants already receiving payments: If you are due to be paid on May 5, you will be paid on May 2. Please contact us straight away if there is a problem with your payment".
This change affects all DWP benefits and pensions that would normally be paid on the bank holiday Monday.
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A sign for the Department for Work and PensionsPAHMRC benefits, including Child Benefit, will follow the same pattern with payments due on May 5 arriving on May 2 instead.
Similar payment changes will occur for the second May bank holiday, with payments due on Monday 26 May arriving on Friday 23 May instead.
Benefit recipients should mark these dates in their calendars to avoid confusion about payment timings.
After May, payment dates should return to normal until August, as there are no bank holidays in June or July.
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