Internal DWP Report Reveals Universal Credit Transition Is Failing Disabled People
An internal report by the UK’s Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), exposed by The Canary, confirms that the Managed Migration process from legacy benefits to Universal Credit (UC) is leaving many disabled and chronically ill claimants behind.
Key Failings Identified
- Widespread confusion: Claimants reported poor understanding of the differences between UC and legacy benefits like ESA, Tax Credits, and Housing Benefit.
- Inadequate communication: Many disabled people misunderstood or missed the Migration Notice deadlines, resulting in lost access to benefits.
- Severe consequences: Some lost all financial support, not due to eligibility issues, but because of poor process design and lack of informed assistance.
Who Is Most at Risk
- Approximately 27% of tax credit–only claimants failed to complete their UC application in time and had benefits cut off.
- Disabled claimants are particularly vulnerable due to complexities in transitional protections and lack of awareness about financial safeguards.
- Many are left without essential income or are receiving less than they were previously entitled to, despite being told their benefits would be protected.
Policy in Practice
The managed migration process is set to conclude by March 2026. However, the report makes clear that unless urgent changes are made to communications, accessibility, and support mechanisms, the DWP risks systematically excluding those most dependent on stable benefit access.
This is not just a policy gap—it is a human crisis unfolding under administrative mismanagement.
