Major Changes To The Benefits System As DWP Moves To End More By April 2026

15th January 2026

Many benefits are ending and being closed by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) as part of the move to Universal Credit in Great Britain.

The key dates are worth baring in mind (especially those around April and into early 2026). This reflects current plans and the managed migration process underway.

What Is Happening?

The UK government is closing a set of older means-tested benefits ("legacy benefits") and moving people onto Universal Credit (UC). This is called managed migration. DWP sends a migration notice telling someone their existing benefit will end unless they apply for UC by a deadline.

If someone fails to apply for Universal Credit by their deadline, their legacy benefits will stop, and they may later apply for UC without transitional protection.

Benefits Ending or Already Ended

Already Ended (April 2025)

These benefits were legally abolished on 5 April 2025:

Working Tax Credit

Child Tax Credit

Anyone on these credits should have already received a migration notice and needed to move to Universal Credit by their deadline (usually three months from receipt).

If someone didn't claim UC by the deadline, their tax credits ended on 5 April 2025, and they may have lost that entitlement.

Benefits in the Process of Ending (2025-2026)

These are being phased out and will no longer exist by the end of the migration programme — target date March 2026:

1. Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)

Migration notices have been sent throughout 2024–2025

Most remaining claimants should have a UC deadline this year (2025), aimed to complete by December 2025.

2. Housing Benefit (working-age)

When the legacy benefit ends, claimants must claim UC.

3. Income Support (IS)

Legacy benefit being closed, with last deadline linked to managed migration.

4. Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)

Ending as a separate benefit, claimants must move to UC.

Timeline summary for these:

Managed migration to Universal Credit concludes by the end of March 2026.

DWP expects that nobody will still be claiming IS or JSA from 1 April 2026, as those who remain will have had to claim UC.

Important Dates You Need to Know

Dates Change / Deadline

5 April 2025
Tax Credits (Working Tax Credit & Child Tax Credit) abolished — all claimants should have moved to UC by this date.

End of 2025
Most remaining ESA claimants will be contacted and asked to move to UC.

31 March 2026
Final deadline for all legacy benefits to be closed under managed migration.

1 April 2026
DWP expects no more Income Support or JSA claims to remain.

How Managed Migration Works

When DWP sends a migration notice:

Your legacy benefit will continue until you claim UC or until your deadline passes — whichever is earlier.

You must make a Universal Credit claim within 3 months of receiving the notice (deadlines vary by letter).

You can ask DWP for a deadline extension for good reasons.

Transitional protection may apply if UC would pay less than your previous benefit.

Benefits Not Affected

Some benefits are not being replaced by Universal Credit and won’t be ending:

Personal Independence Payment (PIP)

Disability Living Allowance (DLA)

Council Tax Support
These stay separate from the Universal Credit managed migration.

What You Should Do

If you get a migration notice letter — read it carefully, and claim Universal Credit by the deadline.

If you miss the deadline, contact DWP quickly — you may still be able to claim UC and get transitional protection if you act within the extra month.