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Urgent DWP Alert: Two Major UK Benefits Confirmed To End By April 2026 – 5 Steps Claimants Must Take Now

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The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has officially confirmed that two major UK legacy benefits are set to be completely abolished by April 2026, marking a critical deadline for thousands of claimants across the country. This is not a blanket cut to all welfare support, but a final, accelerated phase of the long-running transition to the Universal Credit (UC) system. The move is part of the DWP's 'managed migration' strategy, which requires recipients of certain older benefits to apply for Universal Credit or face a complete cessation of their financial support. As of December 2025, the window to act is rapidly closing, and understanding the specific benefits affected and the necessary steps to take is now more urgent than ever.

The core of the DWP’s announcement focuses on the final push to transition claimants from their current legacy systems. The two benefits slated for complete abolition by the April 2026 deadline are Income Support (IS) and income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA). While other benefits are also being phased out, these two have a hard stop date confirmed for their final closure. Claimants who receive a 'Migration Notice' letter must respond and apply for Universal Credit within a strict three-month timeframe to ensure their payments continue seamlessly, making this one of the most significant welfare shifts in the current financial year.

The Two Major Benefits Confirmed to End and the April 2026 Deadline

The DWP's managed migration programme aims to move all claimants of older, complex benefit systems onto the streamlined Universal Credit platform. This process has been ongoing for several years, but the final phase has been given a definitive end date for two key payments.

Income Support (IS)

Income Support is one of the benefits confirmed to be completely abolished by April 2026. This benefit was traditionally claimed by those on a low income who were not required to look for work, such as single parents with a young child, or people who were sick or disabled. The DWP has been issuing Migration Notices to these claimants, advising them to apply for Universal Credit.

Income-Based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)

Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA) is the second major benefit confirmed to be ending by the same deadline. This payment was for people who were unemployed and looking for work. The DWP is moving these claimants onto the Universal Credit system, which now incorporates support for jobseekers. It is vital to note that this applies to the *income-based* version, not the contribution-based JSA, which is a separate entity.

5 Urgent Steps Claimants Must Take to Avoid Losing All Payments

The most critical takeaway from the DWP's confirmation is the necessity of action. Simply waiting for the deadline will result in an automatic end to benefit payments. Claimants who have received a Migration Notice must follow a strict process.

  1. Identify Your Benefit Status: Check your current benefit statements. If you are claiming Income Support (IS) or income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA), you are directly affected by the April 2026 deadline.
  2. Watch for the Migration Notice Letter: The DWP will send a formal 'Migration Notice' to your address. This letter starts a strict three-month clock. You must apply for Universal Credit within this 90-day window. If you miss this deadline, your current legacy benefit will stop, and you will have to make a new, standard UC claim.
  3. Apply for Universal Credit Immediately: Once you receive the notice, apply for Universal Credit online as soon as possible. The DWP has a dedicated helpline and support services to assist with the application process, which can be complex.
  4. Ensure Transitional Protection is Applied: One of the key advantages of responding to a Migration Notice is the potential for 'Transitional Protection'. This payment is designed to top up your Universal Credit award if the amount you are entitled to is less than your previous legacy benefit entitlement. This protection is only available to those who apply for UC before the deadline specified in their notice.
  5. Seek Independent Advice: Organisations like Citizens Advice, Turn2us, and local welfare rights services can provide free, independent guidance on the transition, helping you understand how Universal Credit will affect your specific circumstances, especially if you are also claiming housing benefit or disability payments.

The Full Scope of the Universal Credit Managed Migration Programme

While the focus is currently on IS and income-based JSA, it is important to remember that the entire suite of 'legacy benefits' is being phased out. The DWP's long-term plan is to replace all of these older payments with Universal Credit.

Other Legacy Benefits Being Phased Out

The managed migration process is also targeting claimants of the following benefits, with their phase-out deadlines extending beyond April 2026, though Migration Notices are being issued continuously:

  • Housing Benefit (HB): A major component being absorbed by the Universal Credit housing element.
  • Income-Related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA): This is a massive group of claimants, and their migration is one of the most complex, with a final deadline expected later.
  • Tax Credits (Working Tax Credit and Child Tax Credit): The migration of these claimants has been ongoing for some time, with many already moved onto the UC system.

The entire programme is a monumental administrative task, affecting millions of households. The DWP is prioritising the migration of claimants who receive no other legacy benefits first, before moving on to more complex cases involving disability or housing components.

Key Entities and LSI Keywords for Topical Authority

To fully grasp the magnitude of these changes, claimants and stakeholders must understand the terminology and the interconnected systems involved. The shift from a complex, siloed system to the integrated Universal Credit platform is the largest welfare reform in a generation.

Essential Entities and Terms

Understanding these terms is crucial for navigating the DWP's changes:

  • Universal Credit (UC): The single, all-encompassing benefit for working-age people, replacing six legacy benefits.
  • Legacy Benefits: The collective term for the six benefits being replaced (JSA, IS, ESA, Housing Benefit, WTC, CTC).
  • Managed Migration: The official DWP process of moving existing legacy benefit claimants onto Universal Credit, initiated by a Migration Notice.
  • Transitional Protection: A non-taxable top-up payment to ensure claimants are not financially worse off immediately after moving to UC, provided they apply before the deadline.
  • Migration Notice: The official letter from the DWP that triggers the three-month countdown for a claimant to apply for Universal Credit.
  • Benefit Cap: A limit on the total amount of benefits a household can receive, which is being frozen for the fourth year in a row in 2026, a separate but related DWP policy.
  • DWP Uprating: The annual increase in benefit payment rates, which is also set to apply to disability and health-related benefits like PIP and DLA from April 2026.

The Financial Impact: Why the Switch Matters

The transition to Universal Credit is not just an administrative change; it can have significant financial consequences. While some claimants will be better off, others may rely on the Transitional Protection payment to maintain their income level. Furthermore, the rules around work, savings, and housing costs are vastly different under Universal Credit. For instance, UC is paid monthly in arrears, which can create a significant financial gap for claimants who were used to weekly or fortnightly payments. The DWP strongly advises all claimants to use an independent benefits calculator to estimate their new entitlement before applying. The looming April 2026 deadline for Income Support and income-based JSA is a hard stop that cannot be ignored.

Urgent DWP Alert: Two Major UK Benefits Confirmed to End by April 2026 – 5 Steps Claimants Must Take Now
dwp confirms uk benefits ending next year
dwp confirms uk benefits ending next year

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