5 Critical Facts Confirmed: Which UK Benefits Are Officially Ending By April 2026 And What You Must Do Now
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has officially confirmed that a major benefits overhaul will culminate in the phasing out of two key legacy benefits, with a final deadline set for April 2026. This news, circulating widely in late 2025, has caused significant confusion, but the reality is a long-planned transition, known as "Managed Migration," to the Universal Credit (UC) system. It is crucial for millions of claimants to understand the exact timeline and the steps they must take to ensure their financial support continues without interruption.
The sensational headline "UK Benefits Ending Next Year" refers specifically to the final closure of the legacy system, a process that has been underway for years. The DWP's official statements clarify that while certain benefits are indeed being scrapped, the support is being replaced by Universal Credit, which is designed to simplify the welfare system. Claimants who fail to act after receiving a formal notice risk losing their payments, making this one of the most important policy updates of
The Official DWP Timeline and Benefits Set for Closure
The DWP's strategy is to complete the migration of all remaining legacy benefit claimants to Universal Credit by March 2026, with the final closure of two major benefits scheduled for April 2026. This comprehensive process, known as Managed Migration, aims to move around 2.5 million people off the older systems and onto the streamlined, modernised Universal Credit platform.
Here is the official breakdown of the benefits facing closure and the key dates:
- Income Support (IS): Officially confirmed to be phased out completely by 1 April 2026. Existing claims for this benefit will stop after this date.
- Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA): Also confirmed to be ending by 1 April 2026, with claimants required to move to Universal Credit.
- Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA): The migration for those receiving ESA only is scheduled to take place after 2026, but those on combined ESA and other legacy benefits will be moved earlier.
- Housing Benefit (HB), Working Tax Credit (WTC), and Child Tax Credit (CTC): These legacy benefits are also part of the Managed Migration process, with the vast majority of claimants expected to be moved to UC by the March 2026 deadline.
The overall deadline for the Managed Migration of most legacy benefits to Universal Credit is set for March 2026. The government’s goal is to close all legacy benefits by this date, making Universal Credit the primary working-age benefit.
Understanding the 'Managed Migration' Process: Your Call to Action
The term 'Managed Migration' refers to the DWP's controlled process of moving existing legacy benefit claimants onto Universal Credit. This is not an automatic transfer; claimants must actively apply for Universal Credit when they receive a specific letter from the DWP.
The Crucial 'Migration Notice' Letter
If you are a legacy benefit claimant, you will receive a Migration Notice letter from the DWP. This notice is not a suggestion—it is a formal instruction to claim Universal Credit within a specified timeframe, typically three months.
- What it is: A letter from the DWP telling you your current benefit is ending and you must claim Universal Credit.
- The Deadline: You must make a claim for Universal Credit before the deadline stated in your Migration Notice.
- The Risk: If you fail to claim Universal Credit by the deadline, your existing legacy benefits will stop, and you will lose your entitlement to payments.
This process is the single most important action for claimants to take next year. Ignoring the Migration Notice will result in a complete loss of income support, which is the reason for the alarming headlines.
Transitional Protection: Safeguarding Your Income
One of the DWP’s key provisions during this move is Transitional Protection. This is a safeguard designed to ensure that claimants who are financially worse off under Universal Credit compared to their old legacy benefits will not see an immediate drop in income.
- Who qualifies: Claimants who are moved to Universal Credit via the Managed Migration process and would otherwise receive a lower amount under the new system.
- How it works: A top-up payment is added to the Universal Credit award to match the amount you were receiving on your legacy benefit.
- The Catch: To qualify for Transitional Protection, you must claim Universal Credit before the deadline specified in your Migration Notice. If you miss the deadline or make a 'natural' claim before receiving the notice, you will not be eligible for this protection.
Understanding the difference between a 'managed' and a 'natural' migration is key. If your circumstances change (e.g., you move house, have a child, or your partner moves in) and you are currently on a legacy benefit, you may be forced to make a 'natural' claim for UC, which will end your legacy benefits immediately and will not include Transitional Protection. This is why waiting for the official Migration Notice is often the safest route for those who fear a drop in income.
What to Expect from Universal Credit in 2026 and Beyond
While the focus is on the end of legacy benefits, 2026 will also bring other significant changes to the wider welfare system. The DWP regularly uprates benefits, and 2026 is no exception.
Benefit Uprating and Increases
In line with the DWP's annual uprating rules, most benefits, including Universal Credit, Personal Independence Payment (PIP), and Disability Living Allowance (DLA), are set for an increase in April 2026. This is typically done in line with the Consumer Price Index (CPI) inflation rate from the previous September, ensuring that benefit payments retain their value against the rising cost of living. For example, some DWP benefits linked to inflation rose by 3.8% in April 2026.
The Universal Credit System
Universal Credit consolidates six previous benefits into a single, monthly payment. It is designed to be a more flexible, digital system that adjusts to claimants’ earnings. The six benefits it replaces are: Income Support, Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance, Income-related Employment and Support Allowance, Housing Benefit, Working Tax Credit, and Child Tax Credit.
The DWP is committed to completing the rollout of Universal Credit, believing it offers a simpler, more effective way to provide financial support. For those currently on legacy benefits, the time to prepare for the change is now, well in advance of the April 2026 deadline, to ensure a smooth transition and secure any available Transitional Protection.
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