1<\/p>\n Thousands who moved to Universal Credit are still owed compensation<\/p>\n It was found some claimants unfairly lost out on Severe Disability<\/a> Premiums (SDP) and Enhanced Disability Premiums (EDP) during the transition, resulting in a drop of income.<\/p>\n Both premiums offered additional financial support on top of the standard allowance for certain means-tested benefits.<\/p>\n Tens of thousands who transferred to Universal Credit<\/a> and missed out on this protection have now been found to be owed arrears.<\/p>\n Around 57,000 people are reportedly thought to be affected by the issue, with the vast majority having now received redress.<\/p>\n But, the DWP has confirmed around 13,000 cases are yet to be processed and cleared.<\/p>\n In its annual report published earlier this month, it said: “Unfortunately, some underpayments may be owed to customers who no longer have an active ESA claim and restrictions in data make it difficult to identify, assess and correct these errors.”<\/p>\n The department said it was working its way through all the remaining 13,000 cases which should be completed by September.<\/p>\n The report added: “We are working to both correct existing errors and to prevent new errors in the new premiums cases.”<\/p>\n The total arrears being paid to the roughly 57,000 claimants who missed out on SDP and EDP is worth \u00a3452million.<\/p>\n Solicitors Leigh Day, who brought a legal challenge for claimants on disability benefits who didn’t receive income protection while moving over to Universal Credit, secured a settle for 275 claimants who list their SDP earlier this year.<\/p>\n Stop handing out new cars for FOOD INTOLERANCE says Kemi Badenoch as she demands Labour cut ballooning benefits bill<\/p>\n These claimants were awarded between \u00a3200 and \u00a33,000 for the loss of income they incurred.<\/p>\n We have asked the DWP how the remaining 13,000 people affected by the issue will receive any compensation and will update this story when we have heard back.<\/p>\n We have also asked how much the approximately 44,000 who have already received compensation got on average.<\/p>\n Will I need to move to Universal Credit?<\/p>\n The DWP is currently moving everyone from old-style “legacy” benefits onto Universal Credit, through a process known as managed migration.<\/p>\n Universal Credit<\/a>\u00a0was set up to replace these\u00a0benefits<\/a>\u00a0and the scheme kicked off in November 2022 after a successful pilot in July 2019.<\/p>\n As part of the process,\u00a0households<\/a>\u00a0on legacy benefits are sent “migration notices” in the post which tell them how to make the move to Universal Credit as it’s not automatic.<\/p>\n Households must apply for Universal Credit within three months of receiving their managed migration letter.<\/p>\n Failing to do this can result in\u00a0benefits being stopped<\/a>.<\/p>\n Tax credits, income-based jobseeker’s allowance, income support and housing benefit (for those under the\u00a0state pension<\/a>\u00a0age) were permanently discontinued in April.<\/p>\n The remaining households, currently claiming income-related employment\u00a0and support allowance (ESA), will be asked to move to Universal Credit by December 2025.<\/p>\n Can I get help claiming Universal Credit?<\/p>\n As well as benefit calculators, anyone moving from\u00a0legacy benefit to Universal Credit can find help in a number of ways.<\/p>\n You can visit your local Jobcentre by searching at\u00a0find-your-nearest-jobcentre.dwp.gov.uk\/<\/a>.<\/p>\n There’s also a free service called Help to Claim from Citizen’s Advice:<\/p>\n England:\u00a00800 144 8 444Scotland:\u00a00800 023 2581Wales:\u00a008000 241 220<\/p>\n You can also get help online from advisers by visiting,\u00a0citizensadvice.org.uk\/about-us\/contact-us\/contact-us\/help-to-claim<\/a>.<\/p>\n Will I be better off on Universal Credit?<\/p>\n ANALYSIS by James Flanders, The Sun’s Chief Consumer Reporter:<\/p>\n Around 1.4million people on legacy benefits will be better off after switching to Universal Credit, according to the government.<\/p>\n A further 300,000 would see no change in payments, while around 900,000 would be worse off under Universal Credit.<\/p>\n Of these, around 600,000 can get top-up payments (transitional protection) if they move under the managed migration process, so they don’t lose out on cash immediately.<\/p>\n The majority of those – around 400,000 – are claiming employment support allowance (ESA).<\/p>\n Those who move voluntarily and are worse off won’t get these top-up payments and could lose cash.<\/p>\n Those who miss the managed migration deadline and later make a claim may not get transitional protection.<\/p>\n The clock starts ticking on the three-month countdown from the date of the first letter, and reminders are sent via post and text message.<\/p>\n There is a one-month grace period after this, during which any claim to Universal Credit is backdated, and transitional protection can still be awarded.<\/p>\n Examples of those who may be entitled to less on Universal Credit include:<\/p>\n Households getting ESA and the severe disability premium and enhanced disability premiumHouseholds with the lower disabled child addition on legacy benefitsSelf-employed households who are subject to the Minimum Income Floor after the 12-month grace period has ended<\/p>\n Either way, if these households don’t switch in the future, they risk missing out on any future benefit increase and seeing payments frozen.<\/p>\n Do you have a money problem that needs sorting? Get in touch by emailing money-sm@news.co.uk<\/a>.<\/p>\n![\"British](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/dsc2601jpg-JS962415597.jpg\")
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