DWP to Phase Out Legacy Benefits by April 2026

The Department for Work and Pensions has announced plans to fully phase out two legacy benefits, Income Support and income-based Jobseeker's Allowance, by April 1, 2026, mandating their replacement with Universal Credit and warning claimants of payment interruptions if they fail to transition in time.

The changes form part of a broader overhaul of the UK's welfare system, outlined in the Universal Credit Act, which received royal assent on September 3, 2025. Under the new measures, the DWP is sending migration notice letters to approximately 80,000 remaining recipients of the legacy benefits, who as of February continued to claim them despite earlier government expectations of full closure by this April. These letters specify deadlines for applying to Universal Credit, after which payments will stop if no action is taken. Minister for Social Security and Disability Sir Stephen Timms urged recipients not to ignore the notices, stating that timely applications ensure continued financial support.

For most transitioning claimants, Universal Credit payments will match or exceed previous amounts, including a standard allowance plus additional elements based on circumstances such as...