£15 Million Boost to Help Thousands Transition to Universal Credit as New Deadlines Set

In a significant funding boost, the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has announced a £15 million increase for the Help to Claim programme, aimed at supporting the transition of people from Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) to Universal Credit. The funding will bolster services offered by Citizens Advice and Citizens Advice Scotland, providing free, independent guidance to those moving to the new benefit system before the government’s Universal Credit transition ends in March 2026.

Since the Help to Claim programme launched in 2019, over a million people have accessed advice to navigate Universal Credit applications. With this funding increase, Citizens Advice will continue to support claimants as the government accelerates the migration process, bringing over 800,000 people into the Universal Credit scheme by March 2026, two years ahead of the original schedule.

Government Pushes Migration Deadlines Forward

Between July 2022 and September 2024, nearly a million households were contacted about the transition. Starting February 2025, the DWP expects to issue more than 60,000 migration notices each month. Minister for Social Security and Disability, Sir Stephen Timms, stressed the importance of quick action, urging those receiving migration notices to “act without delay to secure quick access to benefit entitlement.”

Sir Stephen emphasised the reform’s focus on employment support, noting that these changes represent the “biggest reforms to employment support for a generation.” The DWP’s Get Britain Working White Paper, due later this autumn, will outline further plans to enhance jobcentre services, address employment inactivity, and strengthen health, work, and skills integration.

What Help to Claim Offers

Help to Claim, a partnership between Citizens Advice and the DWP, provides guidance on navigating Universal Credit applications, with trained advisers assisting claimants through each step until their first payment. This includes advice on how Universal Credit works, estimating entitlements, gathering necessary evidence, and completing applications. Citizens Advice Chief Executive, Dame Clare Moriarty, stated, “This funding boost is credit to the vital support our advisers provide and means we’ll be able to help even more people make their first application.”

Help to Claim services are designed for accessibility, offering phone, online chat, and British Sign Language options, enabling a broad reach for those needing assistance during their transition to Universal Credit.

Get Britain Working White Paper’s Goals

The upcoming Get Britain Working White Paper will support local efforts to boost employment, including “trailblazers” designed to connect people not typically engaged with the job support system. It aims to improve integration between work, health, and skills services and includes several key initiatives:

• A new jobs and careers service linking jobseekers with employers, with an emphasis on skills development
• Regional work, health, and skills plans led by local areas and Mayors to tackle inactivity and stimulate employment
• A Youth Guarantee offering young people opportunities to either work or pursue education

Next Steps for Those Receiving Migration Notices

With migration notices rolling out monthly, those impacted are encouraged to take action quickly to ensure continued support and access to benefits. The DWP’s planned overhaul of support systems aims to make the transition easier and ultimately improve employment outcomes across the UK.