New data from the DWP shows hundreds of thousands of people will not be given support
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has shut down 340,000 benefit claims and won’t give them a penny. New figures from the DWP reveal that between July 2022 and June 2025, a staggering 2,108,000 people across 1,593,856 households received migration letters.
A total of 1,605,629 of these claimants, residing in 1,218,480 households, who received migration letters have submitted a Universal Credit application. Among those who applied for Universal Credit, 617,306 households secured transitional protection.
The figures reveal that 162,108 people who received migration letters are still navigating the Move to UC process, whilst 340,260 people who received migration letters failed to apply for UC and had their legacy benefit claims terminated, reports Birmingham Live.
The statistics demonstrate that amongst households issued with a migration notice up to the end of February 2025 (allowing for a three month claim period and an additional month in which transitional protection would be considered if a claim was completed in this period), 82% had submitted a Universal Credit application and 18% had not applied and their legacy benefit was terminated.
This emerges as the managed migration period progresses, with legacy benefits being abolished. Ayla Ozmen, director of policy and campaigns at charity Z2K, told The Sun that submitting a Universal Credit application is often a complicated procedure, and the DWP “unnecessarily complicates it further”.
Ayla said: “It’s particularly concerning to see that the DWP is refusing so many universal credit claims on procedural grounds, such as not providing the correct documents. We know that people struggle to meet all of the requirements of the claims process, often because of a disability or because they have difficulty using computers. This can lead to people missing out on vital income. The DWP should take steps to streamline and simplify the claims process.”
A spokesperson for the DWP said: “We support millions of people every year through Universal Credit, and our priority is to make sure people get the support they are entitled to. That includes working with customers to ensure they feel confident and informed throughout the application process, and a free Help to Claim advice service is available to assist people with making their claim.”
