In an open letter to work and pensions secretary, Therese Coffey, a group of charities has requested that DWP pause migrating vulnerable people from old style benefits (such as housing benefit) onto universal credit (UC). The group, which includes charities MIND, the Trussell Trust, Shelter and Disability Rights UK, says that vulnerable people who are less well able to deal with DWP may be left destitute without the right support and safeguarding in place before they are migrated off the old style benefits system. The number of people affected would include around "700,000 people with mental health problems, learning disabilities and dementia.

Paused during the covid pandemic, the migration of claimants onto UC is set to resume today (9th May) and requires compliance with a 3 month deadline to make a new UC claim at the risk of losing any current benefits and the charities asked for the pause until such time as the DWP "have addressed these risks" and that the department carries out a thorough trial of the process and puts the outcome of such a trial before parliament. The group also points to government research from 2018 which showed that among people with long term health conditions 24% could not register a claim online, 53% said they needed more support in setting up their claim and 38% needed more ongoing support. The chief executive of MIND, Paul Farmer, is quoted as saying "As things stand, the managed migration process is too dangerous to continue." and that vulnerable people could be left unable to pay their rent, buy food or pay their energy bills.