By Richard Guttridge
Claimants of a specific health benefit are being warned they will need to take action to ensure they don’t lose their payments. The DWP is contacting people who receive Employment Support Allowance (ESA). The benefit is the latest being scrapped as part of the switchover to Universal Credit (UC). READ MORE: Martin Lewis names British Gas, Octopus, Eon, EDF and OVO accounts households ‘should leave’ Get our best money saving tips and hacks by signing up to our newsletter It will impact those who claim ESA, either on its own or alongside Housing Benefit. ESA is claimed by over a million people with disabilities or health conditions affecting how much they can work. The DWP is gradually sending letters to claimants known as migration notices. When someone receives this notice, it means they have three months to apply for UC or their payments will stop and they will lose their benefits. People should not mistakenly believe they will be moved over automatically – they must apply themselves. Households could be contacted at any point between now and the end of the year, or may have been already. This means claimants should keep an eye out for the important letter or any emails from the DWP. Join our Free Money Saving WhatsApp community for the latest updates People don’t need to do anything until they receive their migration notice. Brits claiming ‘legacy’ benefits have been moved over to UC during the last few years, but the process hasn’t been without problems. Hundreds of thousands have lost their benefits after missing the UC deadline and failing to apply. Some people may not have known or understood what they needed to do. The Government says: “Move to Universal Credit if you get a migration notice letter. “As one or more of your benefits will be ending soon, you need to move to Universal Credit . “To continue receiving financial support you must claim Universal Credit by your deadline date. “If you cannot claim by your deadline date, contact the Universal Credit Migration Notice Helpline.”