DWP urges 100,000 benefit claimants to act now or risk losing cash | Personal Finance | Finance

Legacy benefit claimants are in danger of losing their payments as the next phase of the Universal Credit migration kicks off on Monday, September 2. This will affect those claiming income-based Jobseeker Allowance (JSA), who will receive special letters from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) notifying them that their benefit is ending and instructing them to apply for Universal Credit instead.

It’s estimated that over 800,000 migration notices have been dispatched since March 2024, with nearly 185,000 individuals losing their payments since July 2022 due to not finalising their transfer. The government has emphasised that JSA claimants must switch their claim to Universal Credit to continue receiving financial aid.

It’s also crucial to remember that if you’re transitioning to Universal Credit due to the migration, you’ll be safeguarded by ‘transitional protection’. This means you’ll get a special payment on top of your Universal Credit entitlement if your previous benefit was higher, and it allows you to:

– Claim Universal Credit and possess money, savings and investments exceeding £16,000 for 12 assessment periods, if you receive tax credits.

– Claim Universal Credit if you’re a full-time student in higher education until you or your partner complete the course.

However, this safeguard only comes into play if you apply for Universal Credit by the deadline mentioned in your migration notice letter. If you fail to claim Universal Credit by the specified deadline, your JSA will still cease.

Although you can apply for Universal Credit later, you’ll be evaluated based on standard eligibility criteria and may risk receiving less money on your claim.

How to apply for Universal Credit

The easiest way to claim Universal Credit is online which can be done by making an account on gov.uk. In order to apply online, you will need:

You may also be asked to prove your identity which can be done with one of the following documents:

• driving licence

• passport

• debit or credit card

• payslip or P60

Applications to Universal Credit can be made here. If you’re unable to claim online, you can also call the Universal Credit Migration Notie helpline on 0800 169 0328.