The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) released the final statistics for its Move to Universal Credit programme on 13 May 2026, detailing outcomes from July 2022 through to the end of March 2026. These figures, extracted from DWP administrative systems on 6 April 2026, provide a comprehensive view of the transition affecting millions of UK households. Over this period, 2,353,319 individuals across 1,822,374 households received Migration Notices, initiating their move to the new benefit system.
How many people successfully moved to Universal Credit?
The DWP's final statistics confirm that 1,992,161 individuals across 1,580,239 households successfully claimed Universal Credit after receiving a Migration Notice. This represents the majority of those initially directed to transition. The successful claims mean that nearly 2 million people completed the process to move from legacy benefits to Universal Credit, establishing their new entitlement within the current system by the programme's official end date for certain benefits.
What happened to people who missed the Universal Credit deadline?
A total of 360,030 individuals who were sent a Migration Notice did not claim Universal Credit by their designated deadline. As a direct consequence, their legacy benefit or tax credit awards were closed. This cohort is approximately 15.3 per cent of the 2,353,319 individuals who were initially sent Migration Notices over the programme's duration. A Migration Notice provides claimants with a three-month window from the date of the letter to make a Universal Credit claim before their existing benefits are terminated. If this initial deadline is missed, an additional month is available in which a late claim can still preserve Transitional Protection eligibility. Claims made after this one-month grace period are treated as new Universal Credit applications, without the provision of Transitional Protection. For detailed guidance on this situation, readers can consult what happens if you missed the migration deadline.
Did Transitional Protection deliver its intended purpose?
Transitional Protection was awarded to 814,703 households who completed their move to Universal Credit. This DWP mechanism compares a claimant's previous total legacy benefit entitlement against their Universal Credit entitlement on the last day of their legacy award. The difference is paid as a 'Transitional Element'. Per the DWP, this element will not be time limited, but it will be reduced permanently if any other Universal Credit element, except the Childcare Element, is increased or newly awarded.
What is the status of remaining legacy benefit claimants?
At the 6 April 2026 data extract date, 1,131 individuals were still in the Move to Universal Credit process. This small residual caseload represents those whose transition was incomplete at the time of the final data compilation. Income Support and income-based Jobseekers Allowance officially ended on 31 March 2026 under the Move to Universal Credit programme. The migration of remaining Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) and Housing Benefit claimants, however, has been extended. This extension will run until the end of summer 2026, specifically to provide vulnerable claimants with additional time to complete their move to Universal Credit. The six legacy benefits being replaced by Universal Credit are: income-based Jobseekers Allowance, Income Support, income-based Employment and Support Allowance, Housing Benefit, Working Tax Credit, and Child Tax Credit.
What this means for UK households
The final DWP statistics offer clear insights into the large-scale transition to Universal Credit. While 1,992,161 individuals successfully claimed Universal Credit, the closure of benefits for 360,030 individuals underscores the critical importance of responding to Migration Notices within the specified deadlines. The extension for ESA and Housing Benefit claimants indicates a continued focus on supporting vulnerable transitions. Households navigating these changes must remain aware of deadlines and the implications for their entitlements within the evolving benefit landscape.