Managed migration of employment and support allowance (ESA)  claimants to universal credit (UC) has now begun, according to the government’s official “Move to universal credit” website.

Until yesterday, the website’s timetable for managed migration listed the date for “Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) only” and “Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) with Housing Benefit”, migration as being  "From Autumn 2024 (TBC)".

However, the timetable now says that people receiving these benefits may get their migration letter  “From September 2024”.

Whilst there has been no other official confirmation, the change to the website does appear to be definitive.

You can see the timetable on the “When you need to apply for Universal Credit” web page.

As we highlighted earlier this month, there have been growing signs that the DWP was preparing to start managed migration for income-related ESA (irESA) claimants, including evidence to the Public Accounts Committee and updates in the Touchbase newsletter.

The move is going ahead in spite of fears raised by organisations such as Citizens Advice that irESA claimants are a “potentially highly vulnerable group” and that it is essential that better safeguards are put in place before migration begins.

Here at Benefits and Work, we have a 28 page members guide to ESA to UC migration. 

And, as a result of the many issues raised by visitors to the site, we have now supplemented this with an 11 page collection of answers to FAQs for members, which we hope covers most of the main concerns that have been raised.

We will be publishing more information and resources over the coming weeks. 

Members can download our managed migration resources from the ESA and UC guides page.

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  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 2 months ago
      @Jon Jon, No not yet.
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 2 months ago
      @robbie Labour have a huge majority in parliament 
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 2 months ago
      @MrFibro Have you had your migration letter
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 2 months ago
      @The Dogmother Yes they certainly put the cart before the horse big style.  It's unforgivable what they are doing to the people.  
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 2 months ago
      @robbie I think they went in too hard and too fast. Really upset the apple cart as it were, and now their own see them for what they are. They want it all, and they want it now.
      It's a mindset, "Don't think we are going to be soft because we are a new government," but you catch more bees with honey than with vinegar. They need to learn fast. We won't sit back and take it,we can't. It's all too extreme and it's starting to fall in on top of them
      Let's hope wiser heads prevail. 

  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    · 2 months ago
    i hope Rosie is soon the leader of labour party.

    and starmer i reckon would of had no confidence letters to the 1922 committee, cant see him pm for the full term. 
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 2 months ago
      @Dee Labour do not have the 1922 committee!That is a strange group of table bangers from the Conservatives.
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 2 months ago
      @Dee Lets hope he gets axed.  May his tenure be very short.
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 2 months ago
      @Jason Burton Just wanted to add that within the labour party there is also the coop labour party
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 2 months ago
      @Jason Burton With Labour its the National Executive Council and the National Policy Forum where issues are raised and things can be done through
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 2 months ago
      @Dee Dont think Labour have 1922 commitee only conservative.
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    · 2 months ago
    Please read Rosie Duffield’s full resignation letter from the Labour Party, announced a few hours ago. Here we have a lady with real humanity and values, values that many of us thought were intrinsic to the Labour Party. So did she. It gives a real insight into the inner workings of the party as things are currently. Disgusting. I wish her every success in her political future as an independent going forward. It speaks volumes that she is so appalled by labour’s policies (amongst other things), she felt she had no choice but to resign. Sad.
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    · 2 months ago
    Those on contribution based esa will not have to go on universal credit, only those on income related esa will be affected.
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 2 months ago
      @boris1 Thanks for replying boris1
      One more thing if you could help me with .
      Would i still get contribution based esa & national insurance stamp paid ,besides Universal or would they be making me go on Universal fully ?
      Labour & the dwp should be ashamed of themselves for not slowing it down 
      &  it should be done automatically by them instead of inviting us  or lose benefit 
      inhumane & cruel the lot of them .   
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 2 months ago
      @Vic Yes you will have to apply for universal credit.
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 2 months ago
      @boris1 If your on contribution based esa with a top up income related esa, plus housing benefit.
       How will that affect me  , would i be one of the last to move?
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    · 2 months ago
    Are they forcing the support group esa over as well? 

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    · 2 months ago
    PIP is subsiding the NHS. It’s paying for what used to be available on NHS. If they start cutting/replacing PIP it will increase costs on the NHS or see further declines in health outcomes. 

    Unhealthy / ill / unsupported disabilities don’t make for a healthy workforce. 
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 2 months ago
      @Old Mother Exactly old mother.   It's a kull, and they don't care, in fact no government cares.
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    · 2 months ago
    May i ask if it is a good or a bad idea to create a universal credit online account before i receive the migration notice?

    thanks
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 2 months ago
      @Jon Jon, in any event labour will do the damnest to cut welfare.  I cannot see voucher, or catalogue scheme working.

      I cant see them cutting it, as claimants need x amounts of £'s for their disabilities.

      Freeze !  maybe until the books are better balanced ie they fill in this so-called 22 billion finance hole.

      Another route the goverment / labour may take is means testing PIP.

      We all all waiting extremely anxiously, which is causing our symptoms to exacerbate.  I just hope they honour claimants existing PIP awards, ie those who have got for example 2, 3 , 5, 10 year awards.  Without having to put them through another assessment, just to save more money.

      Labour has certainly put the cart before the horse.  
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 2 months ago
      @MrFibro Mr fibro do you think they will cut pip or freeze it and will new pip claims be vouchers
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 2 months ago
      @HRH Don't. Otherwise you are starting a brand new claim without being asked to migrate- and it will be treated as such.
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 2 months ago
      @MrFibro 🙏
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 2 months ago
      @HRH Bad do not do that.  Let the DWP send you the forced migration notice. 


  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    · 2 months ago
    Stay on benefits and suffer. Get a job and suffer more. Is there any way out of this nightmare other than the obvious? 
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 2 months ago
      @CarolK Basically if you want to work, even if you are sick, UC is prob the better benefit to be on. 

      But it's totally understandable why someone wouldn't want to go onto UC given claimants are being used as a politial footballs and there's potential upheaval soon.
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 2 months ago
      @Jon It's not as simple as that. ESA has pemitted work and UC is designed more around working in mind. 

      There's a lot wrong with UC but it isn't all bad. The work allowance is technically raised on UC if you are sick and permitted work on ESA is quite inflexible and meagre in comparison. 
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 2 months ago
      @Jon Exactly, its very dicey.
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 2 months ago
      @MrFibro Your right if you get a job there is the risk if you sign off benefits and the job doesn't work out once you claim again they could sanction you and put you on the standard rate of universal credit £380 per month so it's a lottery
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 2 months ago
      @CarolK My preference would be to stay on benefits and suffer.  Why have an employee making you suffer even more than you already are.  

      This whole charade will only add more burden to the NHS, & causing a climb in unemployment. It will cause irreversible physical & mental health damage to claimants. All that harping around saying try graft & if it don't suit, you will get all the benefits you was on before (big promise hey).  Now can you really trust labour.  The answer is a NO.
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    · 2 months ago
    So, let's be absolutely clear. With all this managed migration to UC from ANY benefit, will save them around 1 billion a year..allegedly..BUT..what no one has even thought of is where that money they save will go towards paying for what! 
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    · 2 months ago
    They can keep it I am not going to be forced into work - hello future it seems Starmer’s light at the end of the tunnel is here
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 2 months ago
      @boris1 Hi boris1, thanks for your suggestion.  Still on D.LA.
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 2 months ago
      @lesley-anne Thank you lesley-anne.
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 2 months ago
      @sara Thank you Sara, i hope they leave me alone, end of spring i'll be officially retired.  I never thought i'd wish my life away.  But I cant wait til my 66th b/day.

      Mind you I will still be on housing benefit, & PIP.  But at least I wont have to contend with any more WCA's again.
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 2 months ago
      @PP I get where your coming from, aggressive rheumatoid arthritis and fibromyalgia so every day is pain and brain fog .since finding out that we will have to migrate to universal credit by arthritis has flared up badly . 
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 2 months ago
      @lesley-anne You could claim attendance allowance.
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    · 2 months ago
    On pension credit and housing benefit.  Can't walk, am on crutches after an ankle operation.
    Am nearly 77, certainly cannot fill in any forms on line.  Goodness knows how I am going to manage.
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 2 months ago
      @Frances
      Hi Frances,
      I have read about this pension credit/housing benefit merger.  Thanks.  I bet it's not going to be anything good though!!!
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 2 months ago
      @Anon That's good to know thanks..
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 2 months ago
      @Frances Thank you Frances.
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 2 months ago
      @MrFibro MrFibro, if you have already migrated to uc before pension age (which I feel is unlikely if you are due to retire early 2025) you will be able to reapply for housing benefit as well as to apply for pension credit once you reach pension age. If you have not migrated to uc, you will be able to apply for pension credit and your housing benefit will continue. @lesley (see below) will not have to claim uc to continue to get housing benefit and is right that there is talk of a pension credit/housing benefit merger, but I don't think that is anything to worry about - it's not happening yet and shouldn't be as difficult as the migration to uc process.
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 2 months ago
      @MrFibro They’re getting the claimants to do everything online as they know that for whatever reason some won’t be able to.  It’s a win win situation for them.   I know it’s difficult, but do not give up, put your claim in for whatever you are entitled to.  Don’t let them win!
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    · 2 months ago
    just when i think the DWP cant sink any lower, they delay publishing to a highly anxious group that ESA migration to UC began 27-days ago.

    😱🥺🫣
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    · 2 months ago
    IF YOU HAVEN'T RECEIVED A LETTER YET, DON'T PANIC, AS:

    DWP have more recently announced they will be start to invite people claiming ESA or ESA plus housing benefit to claim universal credit from September 2024 with the aim of contacting everyone in this group by December 2025. .
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    · 2 months ago
    I'll be ok as long as I can do everything online or by post. I cannot go to the jobcentre or have them at my home, nor can I manage a phone call directly. I do not have anyone to help me take documents and I currently don't have photo iD. I have not yet seen any evidence that people in my position without photo iD are catered for. I can't be alone in this.
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 2 months ago
      @Dee white Hi, yes the PASS card (proof of age citizen card) can be used as identification. I was unsure too but it's on the government website on the list of acceptable id under PASS . 
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 2 months ago
      @T Didn't think you could use a citizenship card as I.d , Googled it and it say "you can't use a UK ID Card Scheme identity card to claim Universal Credit because identity cards were scrapped in 2011 and are no longer valid. 

       
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 2 months ago
      @Ap Can you use a bus pass as photo id or a blue badge if you have one?
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 2 months ago
      @T Yes they certainly get pleasure out of playing mind games with claimants.  Its no less than mental torture at its finest.

      Millions of British people across the UK must be gutted with labour.  I can't see Starmer & his cronies bounce back from all of this betrayal, deceit, and lies, and further austerity, when the next general election comes.

      But all Starmer & Co are concerned about is being ...Power struck.


    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 2 months ago
      @A You can get a citizen card that can be used as photo identification. £18 much cheaper than passport if that helps?  It's government accepted.  
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    · 2 months ago
    They can keep it, I'd rather be penniless than claim it.
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 2 months ago
      @Jonno Its not true that legacy benefits are being abolished and neither is housing benefit.
      To continue getting hb you have to go on uc credit.
      The only benefit the government may change is pip and we won't know what their plans are until October.
      Reeves will be questioned about future benefit changes on 8th October in parliament.
      Until then it is all speculation and scaremongering.
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 2 months ago
      @MrFibro Housing benefit will only continue if you claim uc.
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 2 months ago
      @Bananaboom Some of us would perish without benefits.
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 2 months ago
      @Sarah How will you live without benefits
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 2 months ago
      @Sarah I am yes! 
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 2 months ago
      @Paul You would have thought if they were actually concerned they would have fixed these fatal flaws before moving over a very vulnerable group
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    · 2 months ago
    I was watching a video that says only a small amount of ESA only and ESA with housing benefits will be transferred due to pilot test (starting September)and to see how it goes. After that a majority of them will be moved over from April 2025? Not sure whether this is true now? 
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 2 months ago
      @Jon It's moved to maid Marian way 
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 2 months ago
      @Bob There's a citizens advice in Nottingham city centre bob on Carrington street near the train station
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 2 months ago
      @Jam85 That is plausible. 

      They can't process everyone in a short time.

      They're going after the wrong ppl. They should go after the elite-wealthy, not the SG ESA a vulnerable group.
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 2 months ago
      @MrFibro @MrFibro Oh don't I know it. 
      They love the power over the minions.
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 2 months ago
      @MrFibro It's all to much stress worrying about it. Was told you can make a claim over the phone if you don't have access to internet at home and can't get out to the citizens advice which in my area is over three years away. 
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    · 2 months ago
    Thanks Benefit and Work can I ask would you ever think of holding a Zoom forum or similar for all of us to join a one-off meeting for us to look to taking forward ideas for a proposal for a union or similar?
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 2 months ago
      @A do it everyone ...
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 2 months ago
      @CaroA We could decide on a representative or leader then each send them a postal order for 50 pounds not a cheque because they will have too much money in the bank also cash is no good as it could get lost in the post then arrange to meet somewhere centrally in the country
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 2 months ago
      @CaroA Best to drop us an email - we don't have any way of contacting commenters:
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 2 months ago
      @A Maybe we should all start to 🙏 for this solution.... although years of all of this has left me having very little faith in anything! 
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 2 months ago
      @A I like the thought expressed about raising a great deal of money to get legal representation but how to do this??

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