The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has warned those receiving the Employment Support Allowance (ESA) that they’ll need to take immediate action as a result of changes coming to the benefits system.
As the DWP is phasing out ESA, those claiming it will need to put in an application for Universal Credit.
ESA is a benefit for people who are unable to work as a result of sickness or disability.
While ESA will be substituted with Universal Credit, the changeover will not happen automatically, meaning claimants need to manually apply themselves in order to continue receiving the benefit.
There is a three-month window that claimants will have to secure their applications for Universal Credit. Migration notices should already have been sent out by the DWP in September to those affected.
Any claimant who does not make the switch within that three-month window will see their payments stop, so people are being encouraged to apply for Universal Credit as soon as possible to avoid that.
It’s worth noting that the three-month window will carry people through into December and the festive period, so ensuring your payments are not interrupted around Christmas will be a top priority for many.
ESA is one of six legacy benefits getting retired by the DWP, alongside Income Support, Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA), Housing Benefit, Working Tax Credit and Child Tax Credit, all of which are being replaced by Universal Credit in a push to simplify the benefits system.
ESA recipients will also often receive Personal Independence Payments (PIP), a benefit for people with long-term health conditions designed to help manage extra health-related costs. PIP will not be affected by the DWP’s plans.
"Move to Universal Credit if you get a migration notice letter,” reads the official DWP statement. “As one or more of your benefits will be ending soon, you need to move to Universal Credit."
The statement adds: "To continue receiving financial support you must claim Universal Credit by the deadline date given in your letter. This is three months from the date the letter was sent out."
