Minister of State for Employment (): Since its introduction in 2013, Universal Credit
has protected the most vulnerable in society, supported
households through periods of financial uncertainty, helped
people progress in work and move into better paid jobs. A dynamic
benefit that reflects people’s needs from month to month,
Universal Credit successfully supports millions of people, and
ensures that individuals are provided with the support they need
to increase their earnings and move into better paid quality
jobs.
In April 2022, the Government set out its plan to complete the
move to Universal Credit, and published ‘Completing the move to Universal
Credit(opens in a new tab)’, learning from the pilot that was
paused in 2020.
In May 2022, we commenced our Discovery phase. Initially, we
issued 500 Migration Notices to households in Bolton and Medway.
This notification letter sets out the requirement to make a claim
to Universal Credit, to continue to receive financial support
from the Government. It advises that they have a minimum of three
months to make their claim and provides details of the support
available.
Following these initial notifications, we expanded the Discovery
phase to Truro and Falmouth in July 2022, Harrow in August 2022,
Northumberland in September 2022 and more recently all postcodes
in Cornwall during February 2023.
In January 2023, we published our learning from the Earliest Testable Service(opens
in a new tab), which set out our initial learnings from the
Discovery phase. It also set out the Department’s plans for Move
to Universal Credit in 2023/24 and 2024/25.
We are now preparing to increase the numbers of Migration Notices
issued and will expand into additional areas, bringing in the
whole of Great Britain during 2023/24. Social security is a
transferred matter in Northern Ireland.
Through 2023/24, our focus will be on notifying households that
receive tax credits only, increasing volumes incrementally each
month. As we move into 2024/25, all cases with tax credits
(including those on both Employment Support Allowance and tax
credits), all cases on Income Support and Jobseeker’s Allowance
(Income Based) and all Housing Benefit cases (including
combinations of these benefits) will be required to move to
Universal Credit.
At the point of moving over to Universal Credit (for those
claimants moving through the managed migration process), legacy
benefit claimants will be assessed for transitional protection
and paid where appropriate. The aim of this temporary payment is
to maintain benefit entitlement at the point of transition so
that claimants will have time to adjust to the new benefit
system.
In line with the 2022 Autumn statement, the Government is
delaying the managed migration of claimants on income-related
Employment Support Allowance (except for those receiving Child
Tax Credit) to Universal Credit. Employment Support Allowance
claimants are still however able to make a claim for Universal
Credit if they believe that they will be better off.
This Government remains committed to making this a smooth and
safe transition. As we move to the next phase of Move to
Universal Credit, we will continue to build on our learning to
ensure the service continues to meet the needs of those required
to make the move to Universal Credit.
