ADAMSON BLASTS DWP OVER UNIVERSAL CREDIT MIGRATION
- clareadamsonmsp
- Jun 20
- 3 min read
MSP WARNS OF MORE ANXIETY FOR DISABLED PEOPLE ON TOP OF LABOUR’S DEVASTATING WELFARE CUTS
SNP MSP Clare Adamson has blasted the DWP after it emerged constituents in Motherwell and Wishaw with long term health conditions and disabilities are being wrongly asked to produce GP fit notes, or risk being sanctioned.
Ms Adamson, MSP for Motherwell and Wishaw, said errors in DWP systems were causing needless anxiety for sick and disabled people on top of Labour’s planned cuts to disability welfare support.
Since the introduction of Universal Credit (UC), people on previous ‘legacy’ benefits - such as Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) - have been transferred to the new system in a process known as ‘Managed Migration.’
But Ms Adamson reports that sick and disabled constituents moving to UC are being threatened with sanctions if they do not provide a GP fit note, despite previously receiving ESA.
Meanwhile, Ms Adamson has warned that Labour’s cuts to disability welfare will drive poverty and deepen inequality for disabled people.
In March, the Labour government announced plans to cut £4.8 billion of support to disabled people. The reforms were blasted by disability and anti-poverty groups; the UK Government’s own analysis has shown their welfare cuts will push 250,000 people into poverty – including 50,000 children.
After raising the issue at First Minister’s Questions, Clare Adamson, SNP MSP for Motherwell and Wishaw, said:
“The UK Government promised that the managed migration from ESA to Universal Credit would be a smooth process. But that is not the reality for my constituents in Motherwell and Wishaw.
“We are seeing examples where the system is not recognising previous ESA awards and people are being suddenly asked for fit notes - despite having long term health conditions - or risk being sanctioned.
“This is yet another example of a UK social security system that works against the interests of the people it is supposed to support.
“I have constituents contacting me who were receiving ESA support due to long term illness and disability: to help with living costs; and to support them back into work.
“Now, having already been assessed for ESA, the DWP is requiring people to produce fit notes from their GP in 7 days, or face sanctioning.
“We know primary health care is facing a lot of pressure. This is adding to that pressure needlessly and my constituents may lose out on critical financial support.
“The DWP system is opaque, and difficult for people to navigate. That is the opposite of what a functioning social security should do. The UK Government needs to review this issue and act urgently.
“Labour appears determined to push ahead with swingeing cuts to lifeline financial support for sick and disabled people.
“Labour’s cuts will push people further into debt and destitution, and deepen existing inequalities for disabled people.
“People accessing social security entitlements should be treated with dignity and respect. The UK system treats people with hostility, suspicion, and neglect.”
Background
First Minister’s Questions – 19 June
Regulation 19 of the Universal Credit Transitional Provisions Regulations 2014 provides the legislative basis for managed migration
Moving from Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
If you’ve been receiving ESA, you will not need to provide medical evidence such as fit notes, or have a Work Capability Assessment (WCA) if all the following apply:
you move from ESA to Universal Credit without a break
you’ve already completed a WCA
you were in the ‘support group’ or ‘work-related activity’ group in ESA when you made your claim to Universal Credit
You may need to have another assessment if your WCA is due for a review or your condition changes.
If you were providing medical evidence on ESA before you moved, you will still need to provide medical evidence on Universal Credit until you get a WCA decision.
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In October 2024, in response to criticism of problems facing UC managed migration, Neil Couling, Director General of DWP Services and Fraud, claimed on X that a full system fix would be developed.
But to date, we are still receiving numerous reports from sick and disabled constituents caught up by DWP errors in managed migration from ESA to UC.
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