UK Department for Work and Pensions sets Universal Credit deadline, expands PIP list and raises pension benefits

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has issued a new update on the Universal Credit migration programme. Between July 2022 and March 2026, 2.35 million migration notices were sent to claimants, of which 1.99 million have already made a claim. The DWP said additional support will be offered, including a helpline, Transitional Protection for those whose entitlement would otherwise fall, and exemptions for vulnerable groups ahead of the final ESA closure date.

The DWP also published the complete list of 178 medical conditions that qualify for Personal Independence Payment (PIP). More than four million people were claiming PIP in April 2026, and weekly rates for the daily‑living and mobility components were confirmed (£76.55/£114.80 and £30.20/£80.10 respectively). The agency noted a 7 % rise in claimants year‑on‑year.

A DWP minister highlighted the possibility of further raising the state pension age beyond the planned increase to 67, with a statutory review due by March 2029. Meanwhile, the department announced a 4.8 % rise in Pension Credit payments from July, boosting couples’ entitlements by £66.60 a month.

HM Revenue & Customs confirmed it will reclaim the £200 Winter Fuel Payment from state pensioners aged 66‑79 whose income exceeds £35,000, adjusting tax codes to recover the amount. The DWP also faced a petition to change Child Maintenance Service rules for the 1.1 million children affected.

Additional DWP statements covered two‑tier vehicle‑tax reductions for PIP claimants, noting that enhanced‑rate recipients already receive automatic exemptions, while standard‑rate claimants face a more complex renewal process that will not be digitised until after 2028.