Why it matters: Debt charities warn that claimants with disabilities or long-term health conditions face particular challenges that could put their "financial security at risk" without proper support.
By the numbers: The latest figures from the Department for Work and Pensions show:
446 people in Ipswich who received one form of ESA had been handed a migration notice as of the end of December.
216 (48%) were still waiting to be transferred to Universal Credit.
People claiming ESA comprised just 11% of all migration notices as of December, well below the proportion of people still waiting to be transferred.
This indicates those receiving ESA are far more likely to face delays when migrating to Universal Credit.
The bigger picture: ESA provides support to people who cannot work due to a disability or health condition. It is one of several legacy benefits ending in March 2026 as the Government moves claimants to Universal Credit.
What they're saying: David Samson, benefit expert at Turn2us, said people on ESA often have disabilities or long-term health conditions that complicate moving to Universal Credit.
"Moving to Universal Credit isn't just a tick-box exercise for them. It's a huge change that could put their financial security at risk if they don't get the right support," he warned.
For context: Sending migration notices to ESA claimants was initially delayed until 2028-29, before being brought forward to September last year.
What's next: The Government plans to send all notices by December 2025, with all legacy benefits closing by March 2026.
The other side: Across Great Britain, 47% of the 198,000 ESA claimants who received a migration notice are still waiting to transfer to Universal Credit.
These 93,000 waiting ESA claimants account for 53% of all benefit recipients awaiting Universal Credit transfer despite making up just 12% of all migration notices sent.
The bottom line: "With migration speeding up, we need to make sure people aren't slipping through the cracks," Samson said. "This process has to be fair, and it has to work for the people who rely on these benefits the most."
