Official Statistics

Completing the move to Universal Credit: Statistics related to the move of households claiming Tax Credits and DWP Benefits to Universal Credit: data to end of December 2023

Published 13 February 2024

Applies to England, Scotland and Wales

Main Stories

It should be noted that households who have been sent a migration notice to date may not be representative of the complete population who will be sent a migration notice.

In the period covered by this bulletin, the vast majority of migration notices have been sent to tax credit households whose likelihood of claiming Universal Credit and receiving transitional protection may be different from Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) legacy benefit claimants, the majority of whom had not yet been sent a migration notice in the period covered in this bulletin.

The statistics show that between July 2022 and December 2023:

• a total of 519,370 individuals in 346,550 households have been sent migration notices
• a total of 132,040 of these individuals, living in 117,200 households, who were sent migration notices have made a claim to Universal Credit
• of those who have claimed Universal Credit, 85,150 households have been awarded transitional protection
• a total of 355,620 of individuals who were sent migration notices are still going through the Move to Universal Credit process
• a total of 31,720 of individuals who were sent migration notices have had their legacy benefit claims closed

Introduction

Universal Credit (UC) has streamlined and simplified the benefits system by combining the following six ‘legacy’ benefits into a single monthly payment:

• Working Tax Credits (WTC)
• Child Tax Credit (CTC)
• Housing Benefit (HB)
• income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
• Income Support (IS)
• income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)

By the end of 2018, UC was rolled out to all Jobcentres for new claimants. However, there still remains a substantial number of households claiming legacy benefits. The total number of people and households currently claiming UC can be found on DWP’s Stat-Xplore tool under “Households on Universal Credit”.

DWP’s strategy for moving these remaining households to UC is formed of three ‘tracks’ of migration (natural, voluntary and managed), as set out in the department’s Completing the Move to UC policy document, published in April 2022.

This statistical bulletin focuses on cohorts of benefit recipients where the migration notice (MN) was sent in or after July 2022. Information on recipients who were sent MNs before this period is available in an earlier publication Completing the move to Universal Credit: Learning from the Discovery Phase. This document explains what Discovery is and the process employed by the department for moving people from legacy benefits to UC.

These statistics include the numbers of MNs sent, UC claims made, legacy benefit claims closed, reminders sent, and transitional protection (TP) awards made. A more detailed description of TP is included in the background information and methodology document. They also includes demographic breakdowns of the data relating to these cohorts.

During July and August 2022, MNs were sent to all legacy benefit types; a number of households claiming TCs, and also DWP benefits (HB, income-related ESA, IS and income-based JSA) which have been replaced by UC.

It should be noted that claimants who have been sent a MN to date will not be representative of the complete population who will be sent a MN.

In particular, in the period covered by this bulletin the vast majority of migration notices have been sent to TC households whose likelihood of claiming UC and receiving TP may be different from DWP legacy benefit claimants, the majority of whom had not yet been sent a migration notice in the period covered in this bulletin.

Guidance

Data were extracted from DWP administrative systems on 02 January 2024.

All figures are rounded to 10.

Note that individual figures in tables may not sum to the total in tables due to independent rounding. When rounding a multiple of 5, the IEC 60559 standard is used, meaning that rounding is towards an even multiple of ten.

Where quoted, percentages have been calculated using unrounded values.

’..’ in tables indicate a nil or negligible count.

Further guidance on these statistics is available in the background information and methodology document.

Migration Notices sent to individuals and number claiming Universal Credit

Households are given an initial period of three months within which to claim. They may also be sent one or more reminders. This means that an overall claim rate calculated over all months will under-estimate the actual claim rate as it will not correctly account for people who are yet to claim. Figures for all months still may be subject to changes as further extensions may be granted to claimants.

The month column in all tables indicates the month in which the MN was sent.

Table 1: MNs sent to individuals by month MN Sent (July 2022 to December 2023)

Month MN Sent	Migration Notices sent	of which reminders sent	Claims	of which claimed by initial deadline	In progress	Closed
All Months	519,370	224,770	132,040	124,120	355,620	31,720
Jul 2022	850	640	770	680	..	80
Aug 2022	190	160	150	130	..	40
Sep 2022	270	210	200	180	..	70
Oct 2022	..	..	..	..	..	..
Nov 2022	80	80	60	60	..	20
Dec 2022	100	80	70	60	..	20
Jan 2023	520	410	420	390	..	100
Feb 2023	960	730	720	660	..	250
Mar 2023	1,000	820	680	600	..	320
Apr 2023	4,950	3,860	3,620	3,270	10	1,320
May 2023	12,880	11,040	8,980	7,850	40	3,860
Jun 2023	23,180	19,550	17,500	15,870	50	5,620
Jul 2023	26,970	22,530	19,970	18,500	140	6,860
Aug 2023	44,500	35,130	32,920	31,100	530	11,050
Sep 2023	39,820	33,900	16,380	15,180	21,340	2,100
Oct 2023	106,150	95,620	19,010	19,010	87,140	..
Nov 2023	124,170	..	8,220	8,220	115,960	..
Dec 2023	132,780	..	2,370	2,370	130,410	..

Notes for Table 1

’..’ indicates nil or negligible

This table is included in worksheet 3 of the supporting data tables published with this release.

Between July 2022 and September 2022, Move to UC was in an extended ‘Discovery’ phase, building on learning from the ETS phase. No MNs were sent in October 2022. From November 2022 onwards, the programme entered its operational phase.

All individuals sent an MN have been included in this table. However, many individuals will not have passed their initial migration deadline and may still make a claim to UC. These individuals will be recorded in the ‘In Progress’ column. Therefore, care should be taken in calculating claim and non-claim rates from this table.

Definitions used to calculate the number of claims made are given in the background information and methodology document.

Table 2: MNs sent to individuals by previous benefit claimed (July 2022 to December 2023)

Benefit	Migration Notices sent	of which reminders sent	Claims	of which claimed by initial deadline	In progress	Closed
All Benefits	519,370	224,770	132,040	124,120	355,620	31,720
DWP Benefits	1,870	1,300	1,230	1,170	610	40
Tax Credits Only	517,500	223,460	130,810	122,950	355,010	31,680

This table is included in worksheet 7 of the supporting data tables published with this release.

Claimants of CTC, WTC, HB, IB, IS and JSA were sent MNs. From September 2022 onwards, the Move to UC programme concentrated on recipients of Tax Credits.

All individuals sent an MN have been included in this table. However, many individuals will not have passed their initial migration deadline and may still make a claim to UC. These individuals will be recorded in the ‘In Progress’ column. Therefore, care should be taken in calculating claim and non-claim rates from this table.

Definitions used to calculate the number of claims made are given in the background information and methodology document.

Table 3: MNs sent to individuals by region (July 2022 to December 2023)

Region	Migration Notices sent	of which reminders sent	Claims	of which claimed by initial deadline	In progress	Closed
Great Britain	519,370	224,770	132,040	124,120	355,610	31,720
England	449,270	198,390	117,340	109,970	302,500	29,440
North East	24,700	9,560	6,680	6,320	16,530	1,500
North West	99,180	46,830	25,920	24,110	67,920	5,350
Yorkshire and The Humber	76,620	35,240	20,510	19,510	51,560	4,550
East Midlands	51,060	19,790	11,280	10,720	37,630	2,160
West Midlands	14,840	6,830	4,120	3,950	9,680	1,040
East of England	35,430	17,030	10,320	9,800	22,510	2,600
London	53,170	27,520	15,600	14,140	31,550	6,020
South East	51,350	16,940	10,660	10,090	38,270	2,420
South West	42,910	18,660	12,250	11,330	26,860	3,810
Wales	30,300	12,530	5,980	5,790	23,590	730
Scotland	39,790	13,850	8,720	8,360	29,520	1,550

This table is included in worksheet 6 of the supporting data tables published with this release.

All individuals sent an MN have been included in this table. However, many individuals will not have passed their initial migration deadline and may still make a claim to UC. These individuals will be recorded in the ‘In Progress’ column. Therefore, care should be taken in calculating claim and non-claim rates from this table.

During the ETS phase, claimants in Medway and Bolton were sent MNs. Between July and September 2022, the service expanded to Cornwall (Falmouth and Truro), Northumberland (Berwick and Hexham), and London (Borough of Harrow). In February 2023, Move to UC extended to all areas within Cornwall.

Since April 2023, the expansion of Move to UC has brought in additional regions each month. DWP will be operating Move to UC activity in all regions/countries of Great Britain by September 2023 and expect to be undertaking Move to UC activity in all Jobcentre Plus districts by the end of the 2023 to 2024 financial year.

Region has been derived from claimants’ postcodes recorded on administrative systems, as described in the background information and methodology document.

Definitions used to calculate the number of claims made are given in the background information and methodology document.

Table 4: MNs sent to individuals by age (July 2022 to December 2023)

Age	Migration Notices sent	of which reminders sent	Claims	of which claimed by initial deadline	In progress	Closed
All Ages	519,370	224,770	132,040	124,120	355,620	31,720
20-24	230	140	100	90	90	30
25-29	7,140	3,430	2,500	2,320	4,060	580
30-34	39,450	16,480	11,570	10,750	25,560	2,330
35-39	91,840	35,660	22,960	21,540	64,580	4,290
40-49	225,860	94,230	55,890	52,600	158,030	11,940
50-59	129,220	61,970	32,850	31,030	86,160	10,200
60 and over	25,640	12,840	6,160	5,800	17,120	2,350

This table is included in worksheet 5 of the supporting data tables published with this release.

All individuals sent an MN have been included in this table. However, many individuals will not have passed their initial migration deadline and may still make a claim to UC. These individuals will be recorded in the ‘In Progress’ column. Therefore, care should be taken in calculating claim and non-claim rates from this table.

Definitions used to calculate the number of claims made are given in the background information and methodology document.

Table 5: MNs sent to individuals by gender (July 2022 to December 2023)

Gender	Migration Notices sent	of which reminders sent	Claims	of which claimed by initial deadline	In progress	Closed
All Genders	519,370	224,770	132,040	124,120	355,620	31,720
Female	327,100	158,570	107,260	100,190	193,550	26,290
Male	192,270	66,190	24,770	23,940	162,070	5,430
Not recorded	..	..	..	..	..	..

This table is included in worksheet 4 of the supporting data tables published with this release.

All individuals sent an MN have been included in this table. However, many individuals will not have passed their initial migration deadline and may still make a claim to UC. These individuals will be recorded in the ‘In Progress’ column. Therefore, care should be taken in calculating claim and non-claim rates from this table.

Definitions used to calculate the number of claims made are given in the background information and methodology document.

Table 6: MNs sent to individuals by Household Type (July 2022 to December 2023)

HH Type	Migration Notices sent	of which reminders sent	Claims	of which claimed by initial deadline	In progress	Closed
All People	519,370	224,770	132,040	124,120	355,620	31,720
Single Adult	173,660	121,840	102,300	94,440	40,070	31,280
Couple	345,720	102,930	29,730	29,680	315,550	440

All individuals sent an MN have been included in this table. However, many individuals will not have passed their initial migration deadline and may still make a claim to UC. These individuals will be recorded in the ‘In Progress’ column. Therefore, care should be taken in calculating claim and non-claim rates from this table.

Definitions used to calculate the number of claims made are given in the background information and methodology document.

Awards of Transitional Protection

Table 7: Households Awarded TP by Month MN Sent (July 2022 to December 2023)

Month MN Sent	MN Sent (All)	MN Sent (Singles)	MN Sent (Couples)	UC Claims (All)	UC Claims (Singles)	UC Claims (Couples)	TP Awards (All)	TP Awards (Singles)	TP Awards (Couples)
All Months	346,550	173,660	172,900	117,200	102,300	14,900	85,150	80,660	4,490
Jul 2022	850	850	..	770	770	..	420	420	..
Aug 2022	190	190	..	150	150	..	90	90	..
Sep 2022	270	270	..	200	200	..	140	140	..
Oct 2022	..	..	..	..	..	..	..	..	..
Nov 2022	80	80	..	60	60	..	50	50	..
Dec 2022	100	100	..	70	70	..	60	60	..
Jan 2023	520	520	..	420	420	..	330	330	..
Feb 2023	960	960	..	720	720	..	580	580	..
Mar 2023	1,000	1,000	..	680	680	..	540	540	..
Apr 2023	4,950	4,950	..	3,620	3,620	..	2,970	2,970	..
May 2023	12,810	12,730	80	8,940	8,890	50	7,400	7,380	30
Jun 2023	22,760	22,330	430	17,270	17,040	240	14,510	14,380	130
Jul 2023	26,970	26,970	..	19,970	19,970	..	16,490	16,490	..
Aug 2023	44,500	44,500	..	32,920	32,920	..	25,780	25,780	..
Sep 2023	34,720	29,620	5,110	15,390	14,380	1,000	10,530	10,160	370
Oct 2023	54,900	3,600	51,300	10,050	1,050	9,000	3,250	580	2,670
Nov 2023	65,220	6,260	58,960	4,470	720	3,750	1,580	450	1,130
Dec 2023	75,750	18,730	57,030	1,510	640	860	430	260	170

This table is included in worksheet 8 of the supporting data tables published with this release, along with further breakdowns.

All households sent an MN have been included in this table. However, many households will not have passed their initial migration deadline and may still make a claim to UC. These households will not have had TP calculated. Care should also be taken in calculating claim and non-claim rates from this table.

Definitions used to calculate the number of claims made and further information on TP are given in the background information and methodology document.

Table 8: Households Awarded TP by previous benefit claimed (July 2022 to December 2023)

Benefit	MN Sent (All)	MN Sent (Singles)	MN Sent (Couples)	UC Claims (All)	UC Claims (Singles)	UC Claims (Couples)	TP Awards (All)	TP Awards (Singles)	TP Awards (Couples)
All Benefits	346,550	173,660	172,900	117,200	102,300	14,900	85,150	80,660	4,490
DWP Benefits	1,870	1,700	170	1,230	1,200	20	440	440	..
Tax Credits Only	344,680	171,950	172,730	115,980	101,100	14,880	84,710	80,220	4,490

This table is included in worksheet 13 of the supporting data tables published with this release.

All households sent an MN have been included in this table. However, many households will not have passed their initial migration deadline and may still make a claim to UC. These households will not have had TP calculated. Care should also be taken in calculating claim and non-claim rates from this table.

Definitions used to calculate the number of claims made and further information on TP are given in the background information and methodology document.

Table 9: Households Awarded TP by region (July 2022 to December 2023)

Region	MN Sent (All)	MN Sent (Singles)	MN Sent (Couples)	UC Claims (All)	UC Claims (Singles)	UC Claims (Couples)	TP Awards (All)	TP Awards (Singles)	TP Awards (Couples)
Great Britain	346,550	173,650	172,890	117,200	102,300	14,900	85,150	80,660	4,490
England	297,820	146,300	151,520	104,410	91,420	12,990	76,460	72,540	3,920
North East	17,370	10,030	7,340	6,100	5,520	580	4,950	4,720	220
North West	63,880	28,550	35,330	22,820	19,700	3,120	16,430	15,530	900
Yorkshire and The Humber	48,440	20,260	28,180	17,860	15,200	2,660	13,370	12,640	730
East Midlands	33,830	16,590	17,240	9,860	8,440	1,420	6,970	6,550	420
West Midlands	9,600	4,370	5,230	3,670	3,220	450	2,870	2,710	160
East of England	23,580	11,720	11,860	9,170	8,020	1,160	6,790	6,440	350
London	36,640	20,110	16,530	14,350	13,100	1,250	9,870	9,610	260
South East	34,610	17,860	16,740	9,590	8,510	1,080	6,980	6,590	380
South West	29,870	16,810	13,060	10,990	9,720	1,280	8,240	7,740	490
Wales	20,380	10,440	9,940	5,030	4,080	950	3,080	2,820	260
Scotland	28,360	16,920	11,440	7,760	6,800	960	5,620	5,300	320

This table is included in worksheets 9 to 12 of the supporting data tables published with this release, along with further breakdowns, including Local Authority District.

All households sent an MN have been included in this table. However, many households will not have passed their initial migration deadline and may still make a claim to UC. These households will not have had TP calculated. Care should also be taken in calculating claim and non-claim rates from this table.

Definitions used to calculate the number of claims made and further information on TP are given in the background information and methodology document.

Contact information and feedback

DWP would like to hear your views on these statistics. We would be interested in hearing what you use them for and how well they meet your requirements.

Feedback and queries about the statistics can be sent to ucad.briefinganalysis@dwp.gov.uk.

Press enquiries should be directed to the DWP Press Office: 0115 965 8828. E-mail: newsdesk@dwp.gov.uk.

Lead Statisticians: Ashley Buckner and Mike Payne

ISBN: 978-1-78659-626-0