DWP Confirms Legacy Benefits Scrapped as Universal Credit Claims Surge Past 8 Million
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has provided clarification regarding the significant increase in new Universal Credit claims, revealing that six legacy benefits have been officially scrapped and integrated into the Universal Credit system since 2022.
Managed Migration System Drives Claim Increases
In a statement posted on X, formerly known as Twitter, the DWP attributed the sharp rise in Universal Credit claims to the managed migration system. The department emphasized that nearly 80% of the increase represents individuals being transitioned from old benefits onto Universal Credit, rather than new claims.
The DWP stated: "Nearly 80% of the increase is people being moved from old benefits onto Universal Credit. Not new claims. A transition we inherited. And it's the same story for those with no work requirements - at least 72% of that increase is legacy benefit claimants moving across."
Universal Credit Claims Reach 8.34 Million
By December 2025, the total number of people claiming Universal Credit in Britain had reached 8.34 million, representing an increase of almost one million claimants since December 2024. Recent data released last week revealed that over 775,000 of these individuals had been specifically transferred from legacy benefits as part of the migration program.
Six Legacy Benefits Now Folded Into Universal Credit
The six legacy benefits that have been scrapped and incorporated into Universal Credit include:
- Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
- Child Tax Credit
- Working Tax Credit
- Housing Benefit
- Income Support
- Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)
New Statistical Measures Implemented
The DWP has introduced enhanced statistical tracking as part of its Universal Credit Statistics publication released on 17 February 2026. This update includes a new 'Move to Universal Credit' indicator within the Stat-Xplore system, designed to specifically identify claims that have transitioned from legacy benefits to Universal Credit.
Additionally, the People on Universal Credit data series has been updated to include an expanded age range, providing better representation of all pension age claimants within the statistics.
The data publication schedule includes monthly updates for people on Universal Credit and quarterly updates covering claims, starts, households, deductions, and childcare aspects of Universal Credit. These quarterly statistics are published in February, May, August, and November alongside detailed commentary in statistical bulletins.
