The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has confirmed that Income Support and income‑based Jobseeker’s Allowance will be scrapped, with all remaining claimants moved to Universal Credit by spring 2026. Anyone still on these “legacy benefits” will get a deadline letter and must claim Universal Credit in time or their existing payments will stop.
Which Two Benefits Are Being Scrapped?
From 1 April 2026, both Income Support (IS) and income‑based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA) will be abolished as stand‑alone benefits. This is part of the final stage of the long‑running plan to replace six older “legacy benefits” with Universal Credit.
Recent figures show more than 80,000 people were still receiving Income Support or income‑based JSA earlier in 2025, so the DWP is now pushing to complete the changeover. After the cut‑off date, no one will be allowed to stay on these benefits, even if their circumstances haven’t changed.
How The Move To Universal Credit Works
The DWP is using a process called “managed migration” to move people from legacy benefits onto Universal Credit. Claimants receive a Migration Notice letter telling them which benefit is ending, when it will stop, and the deadline to start a Universal Credit claim (usually three months from the date of the letter).
If you claim Universal Credit before your deadline, your old benefit runs on for two more weeks and then stops, so there is no gap in payments. If you do not claim by the date on your letter and do not get an agreed extension, your Income Support or JSA payments will simply end.
Key Dates And Deadlines
Different groups are being moved in phases, but the broad timetable around the two scrapped benefits is now clear.
| Change or milestone | Expected timing / rule |
|---|---|
| All tax credits abolished | 6 April 2025 (already closed) |
| Abolition of some ESA(IR) cases | 1 December 2025 for certain claimants |
| Income Support and income‑based JSA end | 1 April 2026 – all remaining claims stopped |
| All managed migration notices sent | By end of September 2025 |
| Managed migration to UC complete | By end of March 2026 |
By late 2025 most people on legacy benefits should have received a migration letter, and all should have moved to Universal Credit by March 2026.
What Financial Protection You Get
One of the biggest worries is losing money when moving from legacy benefits to Universal Credit. The DWP says people moved by managed migration will get “transitional protection” if their Universal Credit entitlement is lower than their previous benefit total.
This protection is a top‑up that keeps your Universal Credit at least equal to what you were getting before, although it can gradually erode over time as your UC award rises or your circumstances change. If you voluntarily move to Universal Credit early instead of waiting for a migration notice, you usually will not get this protection, so timing matters.
Who Is Most Affected?
The changes particularly affect:
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Lone parents and carers still on Income Support.
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Long‑term unemployed people on income‑based JSA.
Many disabled people on income‑related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) and Housing Benefit are also being moved to Universal Credit by March 2026, although ESA’s contributory “new style” version remains available separately. Charities warn that some ESA claimants have already lost out by missing migration deadlines or not fully understanding the letters they received.
What You Should Do Next
If you receive Income Support or income‑based JSA, do not ignore any letter marked “Migration Notice” from the DWP. Check the deadline on it, start a Universal Credit claim in good time, and ask the DWP for an extension if you are struggling to apply by the date given.
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Free independent help is available from Citizens Advice, local welfare advisers, and disability or single‑parent charities, which can check your entitlement and make sure you get any transitional protection you are due. Keeping copies of all letters, benefit statements, and evidence of rent or childcare costs will also make the switch to Universal Credit smoother.
