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Managed migration update, more money to accelerate the move as failures continue

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The DWP has been given an additional £90 million in the budget to “accelerate the move of employment and support allowance claimants onto universal credit”, but staff aren’t following the rules even with the current low number of migrations

The government finally officially confirmed in the Autumn budget document “Fixing the foundations to deliver change” that the managed migration of income-related employment and support allowance (irESA) claimants to universal credit (UC) began in September and will end in 2026.  Until now, claimants have been left to hunt for clues that migration had begun.

So, it seems that the aim to send every irESA claimant a mandatory migration notice by December 2025 still stands.  This means the final migrations will be completed around the end of April, given that some claimants will need an extension on the three month deadline. 

To complete the process between now and April 2026 will mean completing over 10,000 ESA migrations every month.

In order to meet this target, the budget document also included the news that the DWP has been given an additional £90 million to “accelerate” mandatory migration.

“An additional £90 million is allocated to accelerate the move of Employment and Support Allowance claimants onto Universal Credit, which will now start from September 2024 instead of 2028. This will allow DWP to complete the rollout of Universal Credit in 2026, with all working age benefit claimants brought onto one system, enabling the decommissioning of the remaining legacy benefits.”

There is no indication of how this money will be spent. 

But one concern is that the cash may be used to take on and train additional staff to push migration through.  New staff with no previous experience are unlikely to be able to do anything but follow scripts provided by the DWP. They will struggle to deal with the many individual issues that ESA claimant may need to raise as part of their migration process.

Posters on Rightsnet, the site for welfare rights workers are already discovering that the DWP is failing to add the transitional element to the first payment for some ESA migration claimants.  Even more worryingly, there are reports of the DWP simply not responding to journal entries or giving “garbled/nonsensical replies”.

If the DWP is failing to keep up with their workload even with the low numbers in the test and learn phase, it does not bode well for the migration of 10,000 ESA claimants a week in the main phase, especially if they are being dealt with by newly recruited staff.

Meanwhile Benefits and Work readers in the ESA support group continue to report being required to provide sick notes, in spite of the head of the DWP’s UC team claiming over a fortnight ago “we have an existing process to catch these cases, not perfect works for most, but you will see cases when doesn’t. Given volumes going up we are developing a tactical fix, to catch all, as I write, with a full system fix due later.”

Whatever the fix is, it doesn’t seem to be working yet, according to these Benefits and Work posters:

“Transitioning from Esa (support group) to UC filled up the form a week ago went to job centre today for ID check and got an appointment with work coach on the 13th Nov to sign a commitment. Mentioned them that i can t work because of disabilities and they responded bring a no fit note or otherwise if you don’t commit they will stop paying me.”  Alex

“I have had a message from my work coach today about interview next week also CV and job search I'm also from ESA support group”  Jon

“Just had this happen to me this morning so I've copied and pasted all of the info and also told work coach that my uc application told me since I claim esa I don't require a fit note.” Adama

“This as happened to my partner he is in the esa support group  twice in the last week he  as been asked about what work he is looking for  planning on doing he suffers from memory loss  the dwp are totally useless in there response I have had everything from he as to look for work (been in the support group means nothing) to it a computer fault  to we can't find his records even by the dwp standards it a mess we are now been threatened with sanctions if he does not prove he s looking fir work they do not know what they are doing.”  Jason

We’ve updated our FAQs to help members deal with this issue.  You can learn more about the updates here.

And please continue to keep us updated about your managed migration journey

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  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    Carolyn
    · 6 hours ago
    Are the DWP using AI to respond to journal entries and managed migration claimant issues? How do we find out? 
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    Disabled Rights
    · 9 hours ago
    Recapping the text from the Disabled People Against Cuts website:

    "

    THE ISSUE

    Many ESA claimants who are being moved onto Universal Credit under ‘managed migration’ are being asked to provide a new ‘fit note’ (med 3 certificate).

    This is NOT correct.

    YOUR RIGHTS

    Regulation 19 of the Universal Credit Transitional Provisions Regulations 2014 states that ESA claimants in the Work Related Activity Group (WRAG) or support group, are to be given the same treatment under UC.

    This means there is no need for a fit note. A fit note is only required if you are in the initial ‘assessment stage’ of making either an ESA claim or UC claim on the basis of ill health.

    WHAT TO DO

    To assert your rights in this situation, we recommend you post the following text in your UC journal for the attention of a Work coach:

    ‘I do not need to provide a fit note as I have already been assessed as having Limited Capability for Work/Limited Capability for Work and Work-related Activity, (delete as appropriate).

    Regulation 19 of the Universal Credit Transitional Provisions Regulations 2014 applies. It states that my LCW/RA status under ESA should transfer to the Universal Credit claim without the need for a new Work Capability Assessment and the LCW/RA element should be paid from the first UC payment."
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    Sarah J
    · 11 hours ago
    Migrating from ESA Support Group, I was given an appointment at the job centre to provide them with my son's birth cert.  I refused to attend as this was a 3 hour round trip for me.  They allowed me to upload online instead.  I was then given a commitment appointment at the same job centre, which I also refused and was given this 2 minute appointment via telephone call.  It literally took 2 minutes 20 seconds.  Stand your ground with them.  They haven't got a clue what they are doing, so you need to know your rights and refuse to yield to their demands.  
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      Alex
      · 9 hours ago
      @Sarah J Hi Sara, what the commitment was about? Any work activities was given?
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    Rik
    · 12 hours ago
    Labour could've changed the system. Gone back to the 2028/29 plan, and use that time to make sure migration works seamlessly. Or changed it, so ESA Support Group claimants are automatically migrated over to UC. But no, they've made the situation worse than the Tories planned. And are spending more to do it too!
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    Skippy
    · 13 hours ago
    I received my letter 2 days ago.  It went straight into the fire.  I don’t want to have to claim considering I have been told I will be worse off on UC, not to mention having to go through all this hoop jumping bullshit again.  I have not worked for 15 years because of my 13 different health conditions.  I find the whole system abhorrent.  I am not sure if I will be able to manage my bills alone just on my PIP.  Perhaps you think I am crazy.  My friend says just claim it, but I know with the 8 -12 week wait and the stress and bullshit that comes with it, I can’t be arsed.  I hate the DWP with a passion.  I just wanna be left alone in peace, not being spied on or surveilled at every opportunity.  I am honest and if I could work without pain then I would.  No one would want to employ me because of my disabilities and also my age, which is another barrier.  Any ideas folks?  Many thanks
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      Neil David
      · 6 hours ago
      @Sarah J UC is lower than ESA, and unlike ESA it's based on household, not personal income. Which means thousands simply won't get it, and this is what the 'savings' figures put out by the DWP is based on.


      UC cost no more to administrate, no more in staffing costs. It was always designed to shave money off legacy benefits. The problems dealing with the DWP are not exaggerated in any way. The staff are expected to put people off, and do so quite deliberately. They are even marked up or down, according to how many people they manage to eject from the system. As whistleblowers finally proved. 


      In a recent report, the DWP has finally been  caught out lying, bullying, and allowing staff to behave in an unprofessional manner, with 30% called out for intimidation. It is not simply a case of 'standing your ground' when the person, or often people, you are dealing with are cynically trying to stop your claim. 
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      Sarah J
      · 11 hours ago
      @Skippy you will get transitional protection, so you won't be worse off.  Don't miss your deadline though.  It's not as bad as many are making out, just know your rights and stand your ground.  
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    Jon
    · 14 hours ago
    It seems to me that the rules are being applied differently by different job centres and staff because of there lack of knowledge and training
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      James h
      · 12 hours ago
      @Jon @Jon Could be right their Jon ?I have been on the work activity group for 10 years during that time in the same job centre some work coaches left me alone and some kept on bugging me with non stop letters but I always stuck to the rules which were only cv and courses don’t have to look for work in that particular group so that should apply to the support group 
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    Delphine
    · 14 hours ago
    Hello 

    In the above you have written:

    “So, it seems that the aim to send every irESA claimant a mandatory migration notice by December 2025 still stands. This means the final migrations will be completed around the end of April, given that some claimants will need an extension on the three month deadline.

    To complete the process between now and next April will mean completing over 10,000 ESA migrations every month.”

    Should it say “…..around the end of April 2026”? And where it says “ and next April” surely you mean April 2026 as the last migration letter is to be sent out in 2025 with three months to complete plus an extra month for extensions when required takes it to April 2026 final completion date for migration? Please advise.
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    MrFibro
    · 15 hours ago
    A disaster is no doubt on the horizon again.
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    lou
    · 15 hours ago
    I will be £5000 worse off a year with my migration to UC, I have until the 15th November to claim. I'm absolutely dreading it. 
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    Claire Cross
    · 17 hours ago
    My husband is in the support group of ESA and we have migrated over to UC. On a positive note, my husband had a 'commitment' interview over the phone. We put on the journal about Reg 19 and the work coach said he knew about that but the phone call needs to go ahead. All he wanted to do was talk about the transition, the elements we would get and to answer any questions we had. He even rang us back with an answer he didn't know but found out about for us. He was so helpful and friendly. He said ESA would be confirmed in about 2 weeks but he switched off all working commitments, set it up so my husband only receives phone calls rather than in person communication. The only commitments my husband had to agree to was to check his journal and let them know of any changes.
    The stress beforehand was horrible but it turned out ok.
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      Anon
      · 15 hours ago
      @Claire Cross Thank you for your reassuring comment. I'm sick of all the scaremongering and doom and gloom comments on here, it's refreshing to have some positivity for once.
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    Bananaboom
    · 21 hours ago
    I refuse to claim this toxic thing I'd sooner starve than have some target driven wannabe controlling my life holding me to ransom.
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    A
    · 1 days ago
    Omnismambles once again for the sick. Someone needs to be held responsible for allowing this to happen tothe sick and vulnerable. An absolute disgrace 
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    The Dogmother
    · 1 days ago
    Forcing us onto uc and they can't even get it right. But if we foul up we get it in the neck. 
    How can they justify getting it so wrong and still expect us to move over.  The thought of it is gut wrenching. I know some claims go through with no problems,but it seems the ones that don't are far too much the norm. 
    I lose faith more and more every day in the entire System. Not that I ever had much to begin with,
    Playing with people's lives once more.

  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    Rosie
    · 1 days ago
    Chucking money at a problem doesn't help short term. Getting poorly trained staff to train up new staff is never a good plan.
    I was on ESA (support group) from 2010 until this April when I reached retirement age, and I am still on PIP. In that time I can honestly say that less than half of the call handlers I dealt with actually had the knowledge to help me when I called. I gave up calling 5 years ago and always send them letters instead, as it was so stressful dealing with the phone calls. I always tried to be respectful on the phone, because it wasn't the call handler's fault that the DWP had messed up again, but I did tell the last one I spoke to "Now do you understand why so many claimants say they want to shoot you?". 
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    CarolK
    · 1 days ago
    This is filling me with such dread, not had my migration notice yet, gosh, I hope I don't get it til the very end of the timeframe 
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      K
      · 9 hours ago
      @Sarah Jones Thank you for this. I have started adding small one-off payments to my rent account to give me a buffer for when my migration letter arrives
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      Claire
      · 10 hours ago
      @Sarah Jones I think you are supposed to get a 2 week run on of esa,hopefully people are getting this money.
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      Sarah Jones
      · 15 hours ago
      @CarolK I moved over by migration last December.  It was the worst time to do.  I was on tax credits & child tax credits, but once they stopped I had to wait 5 weeks with no money before the UC paid anything.  This happens to everyone going through migration.  I would advise if you are able to, put some money aside to help you through those 5 weeks.  I ended up asking for additional money from my UC payments, this is then taken off your monthly UC payments.  I had no choice as I couldn’t get through the 5 weeks without the extra.  Hope this helps 

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