The DWP will send millions of letters next month saying the benefit is stopping

Anyone receiving housing benefit has been warned not to ignore letters landing on doorsteps from next week, as doing so could mean you lose your payments. People claiming housing benefit receive migration notification letters from the Department for Work and Pensions telling them about changes to their benefits.

Housing Benefit ends and becomes part of Universal Credit (UC), so millions of claimants switch to the new system. The process will not be automatic, however, and affected people will have to apply for UC. The letters, which arrive in June, will explain how claimants have three months to do so, after which their old benefits will stop. They will need to make sure they apply in time to avoid having their payments interrupted, reports BirminghamLive.

Applicants are urged to make sure they don’t ignore the letter when it arrives, as it includes all the details of what you need to do to ensure you continue to receive payments. More details about the changes can be found on the Government website for anyone who is concerned or unsure about what is happening and how they will be affected.

Those on Child Tax Credit Employment Support Allowance are due to be contacted in July, followed by Jobseeker’s Allowance claimants in September.

A government spokesman: “You should switch to Universal Credit if you have received a migration notice letter because one or more of your benefits will soon end. To continue receiving financial support, you must apply for Universal Credit by the deadline given in your letter. This is three months from the date the letter was sent.

“If you can’t claim Universal Credit by the deadline, you should contact the Universal Credit Migration Notification helpline as soon as possible.”