I think that was always the plan. From October 2013, for the first two or three months people who make a new claim for what would have been an out-of-work DWP means-tested benefit will claim UC instead and they will cease to be an HB claimant at that point.
For example, Mr A is working but receives a small amount of HB. In October 2013 he is made redundant. He ges to the DWP to sign on and, because he has a partner, his JSA(c) is below the applicable amount for JSA(ib) … except he doesn’t get JSA(ib), he gets Universal Credit and you will receive an ETD telling you to stop the HB award. You will lose him in October 2013.
From about January 2014 the same thing will happen for people who move into work and would get WTC – if Mr B comes off JSA(ib) in January 2014 and is potentially in line for an award of WTC, he will claim UC instead and at the same time you will lose him as an HB claimant.
By about April 2014 you will not be able to receive new HB claims from anyone, irrespective of work status – for example Mr C is on JSA(ib) and succeeds to his mother’s tenancy in May 2014. Instead of claiming HB, he claims UC and his JSA(ib) is rolled up into the UC award.
Then between 2015 and 2017 long-standing claimants with a stable work status will be migrated, unemployed first and then finally in-work HB/CTB claimants apparently one Council at a time en masse.
I’ll believe it when I see it.