Minister for Work and Pensions (): The Government is working to deliver a brighter
future for Britain, with long-term economic security and
opportunity: where hard work is always rewarded; where ambition
and aspiration are celebrated; where people get the skills they
need to succeed in life; where families are supported, where
those who have worked hard all their lives have the retirement
they deserve.
Universal Credit plays a vital role in providing financial
support to households. For more than 10 years, Universal Credit
has successfully delivered a tailored service to millions of
people, adjusting each month to an individuals’ needs and helping
people progress in work.
The ‘Move to Universal Credit’ activity will bring those
remaining on the older, legacy benefits onto Universal Credit,
completing the implementation of this major welfare reform.
Throughout 2023/24 our activity has focused on notifying
households that receive tax credits only. This activity is
progressing well, and we remain on track to notify over 500,000
tax credit only households of the need to claim Universal Credit
by the end of March 2024. Furthermore, by February 2024 a month
earlier than originally anticipated, ‘Move to Universal Credit’
will be underway across all Jobcentre districts within Great
Britain. The Department continues to listen to all feedback to
continuously improve the service, but to date there have been
very few complaints, and any issues have been swiftly resolved.
Looking ahead to 2024/25, we will be migrating the remaining
groups of households receiving legacy benefits to Universal
Credit, excluding Employment and Support Allowance only and
Employment and Support Allowance with Housing Benefit.
Our plans for 2024/25 are to undertake the issuing of Migration
Notices to in scope Working Age benefit households sequentially,
starting with Income Support claimants and those claiming Tax
Credits with Housing Benefit from April, Housing Benefit only
claimants from June, Employment Support Allowance with Child Tax
Credits from July and Jobseekers Allowance in September.
Households may be in receipt of a combination of benefits, for
example an Income Support recipient could also be claiming
Housing Benefit and/or Child Tax Credits.
From August, we will also contact those claiming tax credits who
are over state pension age, with households being asked to apply
for either Universal Credit or Pension Credit, depending on their
circumstances.
The Government recognises that some individuals may need
additional support to move to Universal Credit. The Department is
committed to providing such support through a range of channels
for anyone who needs it. We will continue to review and revise
this approach to ensure the success of ‘Move to Universal Credit’
for our customers.
