ESA claimants to be invited to claim Universal Credit by end of 2025

Claimants still receiving income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) will be invited to claim Universal Credit by the end of 2025, according to Age UK's record of recent changes to the benefits system¹. The same page states that people already receiving income-based Jobseeker's Allowance can continue to do so but will also be invited to claim Universal Credit before the end of 2025².

Universal Credit has been rolled out nationally and now replaces new claims for a number of working age benefits, meaning benefits for people under State Pension age¹. Age UK's guidance on Employment and Support Allowance sets out how the legacy benefit works, and its page on moving to Universal Credit from legacy benefits covers the managed migration process.

The same wording appears twice on that page¹. Age UK's Jobseeker's Allowance page uses slightly different phrasing, saying claimants "will be invited to claim Universal Credit before the end of 2025"². Neither page gives a specific date within 2025, and no further detail on the invitation timetable has been reported in these sources.

Age UK also records other changes to the benefits system. The law changed on 9 February 2023 in relation to bereavement benefits, and people whose partner died before that date can now claim Bereavement Support Payment or Widowed Parent's Allowance and may receive some backdated benefit¹. Pension Credit and Housing Benefit will be brought together at some point in 2026¹. Following the phase-out of Child Tax Credit, Pension Credit now includes additional amounts for dependent children¹.

On disability benefits, Personal Independence Payment has replaced Disability Living Allowance for new claimants¹. People who were under 65 on 8 April 2013 will be reassessed for PIP at some point in the future, while those who were over 65 on that date will continue to receive DLA for as long as they are eligible¹.

Age UK also sets out benefit cap figures. For a couple, with or without children, or a single person with a child of qualifying age, the cap is £25,323, and for a single adult household without children it is £16,967¹. The page also lists lower figures of £22,020 and £14,753 respectively¹. The sources do not explain the difference between the two sets of figures, and it has not been reported which applies to which circumstances.

Why it matters for households

People still on income-related ESA or income-based JSA face a move to Universal Credit, with invitations due by the end of 2025¹. Universal Credit is paid monthly as a single payment covering living costs and housing, rather than the separate payments some legacy claimants receive, and claims are made online. Age UK notes that the benefit cap may affect people under State Pension age, or those over State Pension age who live with a spouse or partner below State Pension age where either partner claims income-related Employment and Support Allowance¹. The cap does not apply to people receiving certain benefits, including War Widow(er) Pension¹.

The Universal Credit guide explains who can claim and how it works, and transitional protection covers what happens to entitlement when someone moves across. How awards are calculated, including the standard allowance and extra elements, is set out in the guide to Universal Credit elements, and help with housing costs is covered under help with rent.

What happens next

Invitations to claim Universal Credit are due to be issued to remaining income-related ESA claimants by the end of 2025¹, and to income-based JSA claimants before the end of 2025². Pension Credit and Housing Benefit are to be brought together at some point in 2026¹. No dates beyond those have been reported.