Completing the move to Universal Credit

Following a pause during the pandemic the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) has restarted its programme to move all those in receipt of legacy benefits to Universal Credit. The DWP has taken into consideration key insights from the Harrogate Pilot and earlier this month published a reviewed strategy. The strategy aims to migrate approximately 2.6 million households from legacy benefits and tax credits to Universal Credit by 2024.

The strategy sets out the DWP’s plan to complete migration to Universal Credit through three separate tracks:

• Natural migration.
• Managed migration.
• Voluntary migration.

Some customers will ‘naturally’ move to Universal Credit as a result of a change in their circumstances while others will move through ‘managed’ and ‘voluntary’ migration. The DWP will also gradually increase invitations for legacy claimants to make the move onto Universal Credit. Claimants who make the move via the managed migration track will be provided with transitional protections. This means their income will be topped up if moving to Universal Credit leaves them with less money than they received previously. Those who opt to move voluntary, however, will not receive these protections.

The strategy, published in April, outlines a modelled analysis on estimated benefit entitlements and employment outcomes between Universal Credit and legacy benefits including the types of claimants who will benefit financially by moving. To support claimants, the DWP is running a media campaign to ensure customer have comprehensive information on ‘Understanding Universal Credit’  and have the tools to make an informed decision.

If you have any questions about the updated strategy and what it means for your residents then please get in touch with our team.