The Department for Work and Pensions is scrapping a benefit claimed by THOUSANDS. Income-related Employment and Support Allowance is being replaced by Universal Credit. You cannot make a new claim for income-related ESA.

The managed migration of around 800,000 claimants of income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) only, or incomed-related ESA and Housing Benefit, has been brought forward, having previously been delayed to 2028 to 2029.

The DWP began sending migration notices to these claimants in September 2024 and aimed to notify all claimants in this cohort by December 2025.

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The DWP plans to move all legacy benefit claimants to UC by March 2026, completing the UC rollout and closing all legacy benefits by this date.

Managed migration involves claimants being sent a migration notice by the DWP telling them that their legacy benefit awards will end and that they must make a claim for UC to continue to get support.

The deadline for claiming for the vast majority of cases must be at least three months from the date of the migration notice, and it can be extended if there is a good reason.

The number of people claiming income-related ESA at August 2024 was 650,000, an decrease of 75,000 on August 2023. Remaining claimants either claim both contributions-based and income-related ESA, or receive credits only.

If you are already getting income-related ESA, you can stay on it until you receive a Managed Migration Notice letter and are invited to make a claim for Universal Credit.

Your income-related ESA will stop three months after the date on the letter, so you need to claim Universal Credit before that deadline to keep your money coming in and to make sure you get transitional protection in UC.

If you make a new claim for Universal Credit before you receive your Managed Migration Notice letter, you won’t get extra financial support through transitional protection.

The managed migration process is in its final stages and will be complete by 31 March 2026. After this date, income-related ESA will no longer exist as a benefit.

If you or your partner are receiving a legacy benefit such as Housing Benefit, you will lose these if you make a claim for Universal Credit.

You can only get ESA whilst you are working if your work is “permitted work”.