People on these DWP benefits told payments will stop by Christmas

Claimants told they must take action to ensure their payments are not disrupted

A number of benefits are set to be scrapped by Christmas, the DWP has warned. Claimants will no longer get payments from December on their current benefits - and they've been told they could lose cash completely if they don't take crucial action.

Certain benefits are being phased out by the DWP and replaced with the single Universal Credit (UC) payment. People who get these benefits need to apply for UC when they receive a migration notice letter in the post.

Letters were sent out to claimants of some benefits in September. These were: tax credits (if you are of state pension age), income-based Jobseekers Allowance, Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) only, and Employment Support Allowance with Housing Benefit.

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It means these benefits will stopped being paid in December or when someone moves onto UC. Anyone who gets any of these benefits and has received a migration notice has been urged to apply for UC as soon as possible.

Full details of how to do so will be on their letter and also available online. Those who fail to do so will see their payments stopped. People don't need to do anything until they receive their notice.

The DWP said: "Anyone affected will be sent a ‘migration notice’ by DWP to apply for Universal Credit as the department continues to transition over a million claimants on legacy benefits to Universal Credit. Legacy benefits – such as tax credits, Housing Benefit, Income Support, Jobseeker’s Allowance and income-related Employment and Support Allowance – are being phased out to bring Government financial support into one place and, importantly, the majority of people will not be worse off under Universal Credit."

Sir Stephen Timms, minister for social security and disability, said: "Having three months to make a move may feel like a long time but life can often distract you elsewhere. For the best chance to secure your benefit entitlement don’t delay with responding to your migration notice.

"We are committed to ensuring a smooth transition and customers will have the full support of DWP staff to help manage this change."