Thousands of profit claimants to get vital letter as their funds change

Thousands of legacy profit claimants have been warned they’ll see a change to their advantages over the approaching months with the transfer to Universal Credit.

The DWP will proceed the undertaking to maneuver individuals over with the remaining teams on legacy advantages to be transferred to Universal Credit, other than these on Employment and Support Allowance solely and Employment and Support Allowance with Housing Benefit.

An replace to Parliament from employment minister Jo Churchill mentioned: “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 could also be in receipt of a mix of advantages, for instance an Income Support recipient may be claiming Housing Benefit and/or Child Tax Credits.

“From August, we will even contact these claiming tax credit who’re over state pension age, with households being requested to use for both Universal Credit or Pension Credit, relying on their circumstances.”

The DWP targeted on notifying households on tax credit solely throughout 2023 and to date in 2024. Ms Churchill mentioned: “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 sooner than initially anticipated, ‘Move to Universal Credit’ might be underway throughout all Jobcentre districts inside Great Britain.”

A migration discover letter will inform an individual they should transfer to Universal Credit and invite them to use for the profit.

In most circumstances, people might be higher off following a transfer from legacy advantages to Universal Credit.

If an individual sees their funds drop because of this, they’ll get a top-up cost referred to as transitional safety to make up the distinction.

An individual on legacy advantages might be routinely moved to Universal Credit if they alter their particulars, akin to altering tackle or beginning a brand new job.

Benefit funds are rising 6.7 p.c in April. This will enhance the usual allowances for Universal Credit to:

• Single below 25: £311.68 (up from £292.11 per thirty days)
• Single 25 or over: £393.45 (up from £368.74 per thirty days)
• Joint claimants each below 25: £489.23 (up from £458.51 per thirty days)
• Joint claimants, one or each 25 or over: £617.60 (up from £578.82 per thirty days)

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