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The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has confirmed that two benefits claimed by millions of people have ended as the rollout of Universal Credit officially ended.
As part of the government’s ‘transition to universal credit’ scheme, claimants of all six ‘legacy benefits’ will gradually move onto universal credit from 2023. The final phase of the plan came to an end on Wednesday, with income-linked Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) and housing benefit being scrapped.
Other migration-related benefits are child tax credits, working tax credits, income support and income-related Job Seekers Allowance (JSA).
Two million people have already switched from these “legacy” benefits to universal credit, the DWP has confirmed, as it officially marks the end of the scheme.
This was announced by the Minister for Social Security and Disability, Sir Stephen Timms. Independent: “The successful completion of the transition to universal credit marks an important milestone: almost two million people have now moved onto universal credit, taking advantage of legacy benefits including income-related work, support benefits and housing benefit, which are now closed to most working households.
“We have provided extensive bespoke support to ensure our most vulnerable clients are supported at every stage of their journey, including home visits, referrals to safety professionals, dedicated Jobcentre staff and additional time for those who need a designated member of staff.”
Work and Pensions Secretary Sir Stephen Timms has launched a review of Pip, which is expected to be introduced this autumn. (PA Archive)
As of February, around 1.6 million people were still claiming housing benefit, mostly people in temporary accommodation who had reached state pension age. Despite this important step, the issue remains open for these applicants.
Some experts have criticized the move to a universal credit scheme, arguing that the DWP’s migration notification system, where claimants are given three months to migrate or risk losing their benefits, does not work for all claimants.
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In August 2025, a Child Poverty Action Group (CPAG) study warned that some people were experiencing “slipping through the net” on their way to receiving benefits, with evidence that some claimants were “missing deadlines and losing their income”. This loss of income could lead to a “hard landing,” the researchers add.
Last month Independent revealed the case of a vulnerable couple who lost out on £600 a month switching to Universal Credit after following misleading advice about a migration scheme sent to them by their local council.
Sir Stephen added that ending the scheme comes “alongside significant steps we have already taken to help people find work – reforming universal credit to remove barriers that have pushed people into claiming long-term sick pay, introducing a right to try and committing £3.5 billion to support sick and disabled people into work.”
The veteran Labor MP is currently leading a review of Personal Independence Payment (Pip), Britain’s most sought-after health and disability benefit, among nearly four million claimants. The report is expected to be published in the autumn, but the review was announced last year amid threats of a Labor rebellion against the government over proposed benefit cuts.
For the latest news and benefits advice, see The Independent’s regularly updated guide.