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63,000 ESA claimants to migrate to UC every month from February

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The DWP has announced that it is ramping up the managed migration of employment and support allowance (ESA) claimants to universal credit (UC) over the next few months. The department aims to send out  63,000 migration notices every month from February 2025 until early December.

The targets were made public by DWP minister Stephen Timms, who said that since 2022 the DWP had notified 943,343 households that they must move to UC.

According to Timms there have been just 10 complaints about the process, with only 10 of those upheld.

Timms also revealed that the Citizens Advice Help To Claim service, will receive “up to a further £15m” to provide free and confidential advice to ESA claimants subject to the move.

The DWP are clearly confident that they can carry out the migration process to schedule.  But the numbers involved will be very much greater than the department has dealt with before, up from an average of 36,000 a month to 63,000.

In addition, a significant proportion of ESA cases are likely to be more complex than those the DWP have dealt with so far.  Many of the claimants may be more vulnerable because of their health conditions, less accustomed to dealing with the DWP because they have been ignored for years and some may also be unable to manage the default online claims process.

Moreover, it is clear that so far the DWP failed to sort out the basics of dealing with ESA claimants, such as ensuring that they are not required to provide fit notes and that work coaches understand that claimants in the support group must not be expected to agree to work-related commitments.

Readers can contact the free Help To Claim service here and members can download our 50 page guide to “Successful ESA to UC Managed Migration”, from the ESA/UC Guides page.

If you have begun or completed your mandatory migration, please share your experience with other readers here.

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  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    BOB
    · 1 months ago
    I'm out of my mind worrying about the whole process of applying for UC from ESA support group. Apart from my health issues my mental health problems are making it twice as hard to try and stay calm. It's all getting rushed through by DWP and mistakes are being made. He whole process is needs simplifying and the three week gap when u don't get any money. What are u suppose to live on. 
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      Laura
      · 1 months ago
      @axab43 Thanks so much for this reassurance, and for highlighting highlighting the emotional effect of negative posts.  Excellent.
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      Gez
      · 1 months ago
      @BOB you can ask the DWP to split your monthly payment into two payments.
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      Ilo
      · 1 months ago
      @BOB UC is paid in arrears. So if you take advantage of the loan, you pay that back via deductions each month from your UC. You can have up to 2 years to repay.
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      BOB
      · 1 months ago
      @axab43 You said u can get a loan for the three weeks not getting anything but when your UC claim is accepted do DWP backdate for those three weeks. 
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      axab43
      · 1 months ago
      @BOB I think you can get a loan to cover the three week's gap.  ANd I have not received a migration notice yet but I went through the channels of applying online to see what it is like.  It is not too bad actually.  YOu don't have to provide medical evidence when you are transferred over, and it seems to be quite simple (if you are not phased by filling in forms though.  There is help with Citizens' Advice for anyone who is.)  ANd when you are put on the LCWRA of UC (the equivalent of Support group ESA), the time frame can be up to two/three year so about the same as ESA.)

      So don't worry too much. Some people on here do come over "doom and gloom and negative "it's all going to be horrible."  For those of us with mental health issues, those kind of posts/comments can make worrying far worse, as mental illness is very real and should be considered when posting/commenting on here!
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    Carole Lloyd
    · 1 months ago
    I agree with AW. Appointee does work or is even needed for some people. My son can manage his bills because they are all on Direct Debit and his needs aren't great. He can always ask me if he has a problem. Can he fill in a simple form let alone a DWP one, can he make a phone call to ask for something or explain his position , No? It is time the DWP faced reality especially for the disabled and realised one solution does not fit all.
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      Carole Lloyd
      · 1 months ago
      @Carole Lloyd Sorry I made a mistake in my comment. What I meant to say is that appointee is not suitable or necessary for everyone. The DWP don't seem to understand. 
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    Carole Lloyd
    · 1 months ago
    My son who has brain damage that affects him very badly received his notification he has to claim UC today. Has to have it completed by 12th February so will be in the general mess so we are keeping our fingers crossed. He lives in the LB of Croydon London and will visit me in the Nth of England so I can complete what is necessary., No way could he manage it himself. As a member I will be glued to your site to learn all I can before we start. What a nightmare.
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    Kim
    · 1 months ago
    Thank you for your replies. I thought it was too good to be true. I am 64 in January so am desperately hoping & praying now that this cruel migration process takes them longer to implement, so as they don’t get to me before pension age. Am wishing my life away! Didn’t have this fear hanging over me before they bought this forward as by 2028 I will be on pension credit. Can only hope that it takes them as long as it did to transfer Dla to Pip. They didn’t get to me on that one until late 2019, when the target for that was everyone transferred by 2015. Deep breaths! Good luck to all at this god awful time.
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      lesley
      · 1 months ago
      @Kim I am a pensioner, will be 77 in December, am still worried about the pension credit/housing benefit merger. House benefit to be changed to ‘housing credit’. Was not going to happen until 2028 at the earliest.
      Now Angela Rayner wants to bring it forward.
      I can assure you that the worry does not automatically stop when you reach pension age! Oh no sorry to tell you!
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      Anon
      · 1 months ago
      @Kim I'm sorry but the DWP have announced they are massively ramping up the migration from February and everyone should have received their letter by the end of next year. 
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      Gaddy
      · 1 months ago
      @Kim I am also wishing my life away for the same reason!
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    Adama
    · 1 months ago
    I'm so stressed waiting for first statement and praying it's all correct. Initial advance given isn't a quarter of my entitlement as per all my calculations. Thank god I get dla and pip or I would be in a real dark place. They didn't make it easy for me the first few weeks of migrating but thankfully my lwrca has now been actioned. They also need to stop the 5 week wait as its just really bad for people and tips people into financial harm

    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      Jon
      · 1 months ago
      @James h Didn't realise James thanks
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      James h
      · 1 months ago
      @Jon @Jon You can ring up uc helpline and get paid twice a month can be done because I told 2 of my friends to do it and it was done with no issue and I will be doing the same when it’s my turn 
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      Jon
      · 1 months ago
      @Adama I don't like this monthly payday it's difficult too budget
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    Rik
    · 1 months ago
    This is the Labour I remember - they've always treated disabled people worse than the Tories - and that takes some doing! How they can ramp up to such massive numbers is mind boggling. We all know the DWP won't be able to cope and it'll cause harm to vulnerable people will be.
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    BOB
    · 1 months ago
    Are there any people out there that have had any positive experiences when making a claim to UC from ESA seen an awful lot of negative outcomes. My stress levels are over the roof with worrying about it. Apart from not having internet access at home. I can't sit at a computer due to my health problems so what do you do. Trying to get through to Citizens advice but just get answering machine. It's all to much heating all these negative experiences people have had.  Please someone tell me some good news. 
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      A.Nudder
      · 1 months ago
      @BOB There are different contacts depending on were you are.i can give you some Scottish contacts.scotland citizens advice benefits claiming:0800 023 2581/Scotland citizens advice helpline 0800 028 1456/ and finally a number which may be including England and Wales Citizens advice bureau help to claim U.C. 0800 244 8444. Hope there's something there to help you.
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      Jon
      · 1 months ago
      @BOB I had a decent experience filled out UC application in job centre work coach was initially mentioned but once they realised I was in the support group that was dropped then given an appointment to attend jcp that also went alright just had to show id then claim was processed
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    SW
    · 1 months ago
    Live backwards is how it looks.

    this is the same model as when A+E's forced over to UCC's, to save money as UCC's  are paid less per person.

    not going to help. 




  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    Aw
    · 1 months ago
    As far as I'm aware they still have not provided a way for people to claim who can't deal with them directly but who are not in a position to need an appointee. The only way to have the initial interview still seems only to be either in person at the jobcentre or a home visit, or by telephone. 

    I can do neither, and have been managing my ESA claim entirely on paper applications and evidence since 2009.

    I do not need, want or have a person able to be an appointee as I am otherwise able to manage my own finances.

    I have no idea what I'm supposed to do. I don't expect the jobcentre staff to know either and fully expect my claim to be denied because I won't be able to successfully apply. 

    I've been flagging this up with Neil Couling and my MP for months but no-one gives a damn.
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    A
    · 1 months ago
    So it will take them 471 man days to process  943,343 if they can manage to process 2,000 per day all 7 days a week without any system wide failures let alone any bugs and other issues coming up. Good luck with that. They should go back to the original plans and go slow slow slow as well as test test test and some more tests before promising the unachievable 
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    MJ
    · 1 months ago
    Ramping up their migration targets despite not getting the basics right on the lesser amounts they were doing spells a likely complete **** up on the cards.
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    MrFibro
    · 1 months ago
    So basically these DWP workers who are ignoring the following...(Moreover, it is clear that so far the DWP failed to sort out the basics of dealing with ESA claimants, such as ensuring that they are not required to provide fit notes and that work coaches understand that claimants in the support group must not be expected to agree to work-related commitments.)

    Should all be sacked, for gross negligence, and misconduct. Furthermore they should all land in court in front of a beak, and made to pay compensation for all the unnecessary, excessive  stress claimants have had to endure, which in turn has worsened their health.
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    Kim
    · 1 months ago
    Please can you help me. I found an article online from the uk pensions site stating that if you receive the severe disability premium on esa & in receipt of pip then you won’t be forced onto migrating to uc. Please tell me this is true, for the sake of my sanity! Would make sense as there efforts to force you into work would be more difficult.
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      Shell
      · 1 months ago
      @A Hi, thank you for this. Can you tell me where this is written please as I am on Contributory ESA in the support group and received a migration letter today saying I’m on ESA and I have to migrate to UC. I have also never received Severe disability premium as I was told not entitled to it as on contributory ESA. Thank you 
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      Aw
      · 1 months ago
      @Kim I'm afraid that's not correct as old style ESA is being phased out. You will either be migrated to UC if you're income based, or new style ESA if you're contributions based. If you claim housing benefit you will be migrated to UC housing element. There isn't an SDP in UC, your current income will be frozen at the point of migration, however there are many scenarios that will see your money be reduced so it's a good idea to see a benefits advisor or the citizen's advice for help.
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      Sarah
      · 1 months ago
      @Kim Not true I’m afraid! I receive higher rate pip and severe disability premium on esa and I received letter in early Sept that I had to migrate by Nov!! It is an arduous and unsettling process tho everyone has been very helpful. Good luck!
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      _
      · 1 months ago
      @Kim Source?
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      MrFibro
      · 1 months ago
      @Kim Kim,  Somebody may have better information regarding your query later on.  My understanding is that eventually come end of dec 2025, all claimants would had been invited & moved over to UC. (That's the DWP's forecast.  I'm sure that will not happen the way they expect it to happen for various reasons).

      The only claimants who I personally think may get away with being axed, could be people very near to retirement age.. ie a few months or so from receiving their state pension+ pension credits if they claim pension credit that is.  And also their HB ( housing benefit etc)

      Migrating them would seem to me to be pointless.  Apart from that I have no idea how the move from esa ,iresa etc onto uc is being implemented.   ie countywise, age, alphabetical order, randomly picked etc.


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