Up to 13,000 benefits claimants could be entitled to thousands of pounds in compensation after the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) settled a claim on behalf of disability benefits claimants.
The claimants lost “Severe Disability Premiums” (SDP) in the move on to Universal Credit in the years before the Department of Work and Pensions introduced the SDP Gateway scheme to ensure that people no longer missed out.
Others also missed out on “Enhanced Disability Premium” (EDP) in the move on to Universal Credit.
The DWP once sent me a bill for £££££
— Mental Health (@Sectioned_) February 11, 2025
During a relapse of severe mental illness, I wrote to the DWP to say I wanted to sign off social security & stand on my own two feet again
So the DWP cancelled my benefits & sent me a bill to repay every penny I'd received, going back years https://t.co/8kVC2wyyIN
Leigh Day human rights team partner Ryan Bradshaw took up the case on behalf of claimants who had experienced a similar loss of income after moving on to universal credit.
The website states: “The DWP have agreed to an August 2025 deadline to set up a lawful compensation scheme to repay his clients for the loss of income, which Ryan Bradshaw estimates could be worth in excess of £5,000 per person.”
Mr Bradshaw believes that over 15,000 benefits claimants could also be entitled to financial compensation from the DWP.
He said: “I am glad to have settled this claim on behalf of my clients. However, there are thousands of others who have been similarly affected who have not been in a position to bring a claim like this."
One of Ryan’s clients is 39-year-old Philippa from Chesterfield.
Her career has included gaps due to conditions such as a chronic autoimmune condition fibromyalgia which causes pain throughout her body, dehydrated discs in her spine, and brain fog.
Philippa spoke about her experience of losing DWP payments: “When you’re on benefits, you don’t feel secure. Every day you wait for the little brown envelope.
“The compensation has meant the difference between being able to access prepared meals which cover my nutritional needs, versus buying the cheapest ready meals which are not nutritionally balanced enough.
“I know people on relatively good incomes who are still struggling with the cost of living.”
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Mr Bradshaw continued: “They too will have experienced the loss of £180 a month after they were moved from legacy benefits on to universal credit in the years before January 2019. They too will have suffered unnecessary stress."
“A suitable scheme, compensating all the people who have endured discrimination at the hands of the DWP, ought to be urgently put in place. The mistakes made here should never be repeated.
People who think they might have been affected by the move to Universal Credit should get independent help and advice from a non-profit organisation such as Citizens Advice.
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