Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether claimants need to appeal in order to receive transitional protection when they are moved from Employment and Support Allowance to Universal Credit.

Since 2024 the Department has been inviting claimants of income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA IR) to make a claim to Universal Credit (UC) within three months in order to maintain their financial support. Those making a UC claim before their deadline, whose circumstances remain the same as those of their ESA claim will be assessed for transitional protection and, where eligible, this will automatically be applied to their Universal Credit award without requiring an appeal although statutory appeal rights are attached to this decision.