What you need to know about managed migration to universal credit: a briefing for MPs

Between now and the end of 2025, thousands of your constituents will have their existing benefit payments switched off and replaced with universal credit. The process involves several hurdles; in the worst-case scenario, a family could be left without any income at all. This briefing explains how the process works, issues your constituents are likely to face, and how you can carry out effective casework on this topic.

• You are likely to be asked for help from constituents who have been sent a ‘migration notice’ by the DWP. The letter will tell the constituent that they have to move from older benefits (commonly referred to as ‘legacy benefits’) to universal credit (UC). It will state that the constituent has three months to claim for UC, after which their existing benefit payments will be terminated.
• These letters are being sent to people as part of the ongoing process of moving people from legacy benefits to UC called ‘managed migration’, which is scheduled to be completed by the end of 2025.
• Around 1 million lead carers and disabled people are scheduled to receive this letter by the end of 2025. No one will be moved to UC automatically. Claimants who do not respond to their migration notice will have their existing benefit payments terminated with no UC income to substitute it.
• CPAG has seen cases of the UC awards of people going through managed migration being calculated incorrectly, and evidence that safeguards are not being applied comprehensively. We often hear from claimants struggling to find out the information they need to plan for the move to UC, struggling to make ends meet while they wait for their first UC payment, and struggling to adjust to the demands of managing a UC claim.