View source for Department for Work and Pensions

{{Short description|Ministerial department of the UK Government}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2017}}
{{Infobox government agency
| name            = Department for Work and Pensions<br/><small>{{langx|cy|Yr Adran Gwaith a Phensiynau}}</small>
| type            = Department
| seal            = 
| logo            = Department for Work and Pensions logo.svg
| logo_width      = 166px
| formed          = {{Start date|df=y|2001|6|8}}
| preceding1      = {{Plainlist|
* [[Department of Social Security (United Kingdom)|Department of Social Security]]
}}
| jurisdiction    = [[Government of the United Kingdom]]
| headquarters    = Caxton House<br/>7th Floor<br/>6–12 Tothill Street<br/>London<br/>SW1H 9NA
| employees       = 84,550 {{as of|2024|6|lc=yes}}<ref name="CS staff numbers"/>
| budget          = £176.3 billion (Resource AME),<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/how-to-understand-public-sector-spending/how-to-understand-public-sector-spending#annually-managed-expenditure-ame |title=How to understand public sector spending – Annually managed expenditure (AME) |publisher=HM Treasury |date=29 May 2013 |access-date=2 August 2016 |quote="Annually managed expenditure, or AME, is more difficult to explain or control as it is spent on programmes which are demand-led – such as welfare, tax credits or public sector pensions. It is spent on items that may be unpredictable or not easily controlled by departments, and are relatively large in comparison to other government departments." |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160918012100/https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/how-to-understand-public-sector-spending/how-to-understand-public-sector-spending#annually-managed-expenditure-ame |archive-date=18 September 2016 |url-status=live |df=dmy-all }}</ref><br/>£6.3 billion (Resource DEL),<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/how-to-understand-public-sector-spending/how-to-understand-public-sector-spending#departmental-expenditure-limits-del |title=How to understand public sector spending – Departmental Expenditure Limits (DEL) |publisher=HM Treasury |date=29 May 2013 |access-date=2 August 2016 |quote="The government budget that is allocated to and spent by government departments is known as the Departmental Expenditure Limit, or DEL. This amount, and how it is split between government departments, is set at Spending Reviews. Things that departmental budgets can be spent on include the running of the services that they oversee such as schools or hospital, and the everyday cost of resources such as staff. The government controls DEL by deciding how much each department gets." |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160918012100/https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/how-to-understand-public-sector-spending/how-to-understand-public-sector-spending#departmental-expenditure-limits-del |archive-date=18 September 2016 |url-status=live |df=dmy-all }}</ref><br/>£0.3 billion (Capital DEL),<br/>£2.3 billion (Non-Budget Expenditure)<br/>Estimated for year ending 31 March 2017<ref>{{cite book|title=Central Government Supply Estimates 2016–17|year=2016|publisher=HM Treasury|location=London|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/main-supply-estimates-2016-to-2017|access-date=2 August 2016|page=138|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160917200117/https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/main-supply-estimates-2016-to-2017|archive-date=17 September 2016|url-status=live|df=dmy-all}}</ref>
| minister_type   = Secretary of State
| minister1_name  = [[Liz Kendall]] MP
| minister1_pfo   = [[Secretary of State for Work and Pensions]]
| chief1_name     = [[Peter Schofield (civil servant)|Sir Peter Schofield]]<ref name=":0"/>
| chief1_position = [[Permanent Secretary]]
| chief2_name     = Barbara Bennett
| chief2_position = Director General, Operations
| chief3_name     = 
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| parent_department = 
| website         = {{URL|https://gov.uk/dwp}}
}}
{{PoliticsUK}}
The '''Department for Work and Pensions''' ('''DWP''') is a [[Departments of the Government of the United Kingdom|ministerial department]] of the [[Government of the United Kingdom]]. It is responsible for [[welfare spending|welfare]], pensions and child maintenance policy. As the UK's biggest public service department it administers the [[State Pension]] and a range of working age, disability and ill health benefits to around 20 million claimants and customers.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Department for Work and Pensions|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-for-work-pensions|access-date=2020-12-14|website=GOV.UK|language=en}}</ref> It is the second-largest governmental department in terms of employees,<ref name="CS staff numbers">{{cite web |last1=Worlidge |first1=Jack |last2=Aiyar-Majeed |first2=Sameer |last3=Grama |first3=Teodor |date=11 Jun 2024 |orig-date=15 Dec 2017 |title=Civil service staff numbers |url=https://www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/explainers/civil-service-staff-numbers |access-date=1 Jul 2024 |publisher=Institute for Government}}</ref> and the second largest in terms of expenditure (£228 billion {{as of|2021|7|lc=yes}}).<ref>{{cite web|date=July 2021|title=Departmental budgets|url=https://www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/explainers/departmental-budgets|publisher=Institute for Government|access-date=1 July 2024|at=Table ''Total managed expenditure (TME) by department, 2021/22 (planned)''}} {{as of|2024|7|1}} this article is dated 7 November 2017 but the relevant table is dated July 2021.</ref>

The department has two delivery services: [[Jobcentre Plus]] administers working age benefits: [[Universal Credit]], [[Jobseeker's Allowance]] and [[Employment and Support Allowance]]; the [[Child Maintenance Service]] provides the statutory child support scheme. DWP also administers [[State Pension]], [[Pension Credit]], disability benefits such as [[Personal Independence Payment]], and support for life events from [[Maternity Allowance]] to [[Bereavement Support Payment|bereavement benefits]].

Non-departmental bodies accountable to DWP include the [[Health and Safety Executive]], [[The Pensions Regulator]] and the [[Money and Pensions Service]].

==History==

The department was created on 8 June 2001 as a merger of the [[Department of Social Security (United Kingdom)|Department of Social Security]], Employment Service and the policy groups of the [[Department for Education and Employment]] involved in employment policy and international issues.<ref name="Carmel & Papadopoulos ">{{cite web|author1=E Carmel |author2=T Papadopoulos |title=The New governance of Social Security in Britain|url=https://people.bath.ac.uk/hsstp/TP-Publications/EC-TP-New-Governance-of-Soc-Sec_2003.pdf|access-date=6 June 2012|publisher=University of Bath}}</ref><ref name="Dept. of Social Security ">{{cite web|author=Dept. of Social Security |title=Resource Accounts 2000–2001|url=http://www.rightsnet.org.uk/pdfs/welfarestate2002.doc|access-date=6 June 2012|publisher=rightsnet.org}}</ref><ref>[http://www.eurofound.europa.eu/emire/UNITED%20KINGDOM/DEPARTMENTFOREDUCATIONANDEMPLOYMENTDFEE-EN.htm European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130329035429/http://www.eurofound.europa.eu/emire/UNITED%20KINGDOM/DEPARTMENTFOREDUCATIONANDEMPLOYMENTDFEE-EN.htm |date=29 March 2013 }} Retrieved 6 June 2012</ref>

The department was initially tasked with creating [[Jobcentre Plus]] and the Pensions Service from the Employment Service and the [[Benefits Agency]].<ref name="Dept. of Social Security"/> The department became responsible for welfare and pension policy.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dwp.gov.uk/about-dwp|title=About – Department for Work and Pensions – GOV.UK|access-date=25 August 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090901185805/http://dwp.gov.uk/about-dwp/|archive-date=1 September 2009|url-status=live|df=dmy-all}}</ref> It aims "to help its customers become financially independent and to help reduce [[child poverty]]".<ref name="cabinetoffice.gov.uk">{{cite web|url=http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/content/department-work-and-pensions|title=Department for Work and Pensions – GOV.UK|access-date=4 May 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110423024620/http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/content/department-work-and-pensions|archive-date=23 April 2011|url-status=live|df=dmy-all}}</ref>

In 2012, the department fully subsumed pensions, disability and life events under the DWP name; [[Jobcentre Plus]] and [[Child Maintenance Service]] remain as distinct identities publicly.

Until 2021, the DWP was still using [[ICL VME]] based computer systems originating from its 1988 Pension Service Computer System to support [[State Pension (United Kingdom)|state pension]] payments.<ref name=thereg-20220121>{{cite news |url=https://www.theregister.com/2022/01/21/dwp_1bn_pension_shortfall/ |title=You might want to consider the cost of not upgrading legacy tech, UK's Department for Work and Pensions told |last=Clark |first=Lindsay |website=The Register |date=21 January 2022 |access-date=24 January 2022}}</ref><ref name=thereg-20210922>{{cite news |url=https://www.theregister.com/2021/09/22/icl_mainframe_uk_pension_errors/ |title=Thatcher-era ICL mainframe fingered for failure to pay out over £1bn in UK pensions |last=Clark |first=Lindsay |website=The Register |date=22 September 2021 |access-date=24 January 2022}}</ref> The software was migrated to an in-house VME replacement system, in one of the largest computer replacement projects in Europe.<ref name=computerweekly-20210326>{{cite news |url=https://www.computerweekly.com/news/252498414/DWP-completes-in-house-VME-replacement-project |title=DWP completes in-house VME replacement project |last=Evenstad |first=Lis |website=Computer Weekly |date=26 March 2021 |access-date=24 January 2022}}</ref><ref name=microfocus-2021>{{cite web |url=https://www.microfocus.com/en-gb/media/case-study/department-for-work-and-pensions-cs-a4.pdf |title=Case Study – Department for Work and Pensions |website=Micro Focus |year=2021 |access-date=24 January 2022}}</ref>

==Ministers==
DWP ministers are as follows:<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-for-work-pensions|title=Our ministers|website=GOV.UK|access-date=1 August 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.parliament.uk/mps-lords-and-offices/government-and-opposition1/opposition-holding/|title=Her Majesty's Official Opposition|website=UK Parliament|language=en|access-date=2017-10-17|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101202230616/http://www.parliament.uk/mps-lords-and-offices/government-and-opposition1/opposition-holding/|archive-date=2 December 2010|url-status=live|df=dmy-all}}</ref>

{| class=wikitable
|-
! width=95x| Minister
! Portrait
! Office
! Portfolio
|-
| [[Liz Kendall]] {{small|MP}}
| [[File:Liz Kendall Official Cabinet Portrait, July 2024 (cropped) 2.jpg|frameless|125x125px]]
| [[Secretary of State for Work and Pensions]]
| Overall responsibility for the department; people of working age; employers; pensioners; families and children; disabled people, also in the [[Cabinet of the United Kingdom|Cabinet]].<ref>UK Parliament, [https://members.parliament.uk/Government/Cabinet His Majesty's Government: The Cabinet], accessed on 22 November 2024</ref>
|-
| [[Alison McGovern]] {{small|MP}}
|  [[File:Official portrait of Alison McGovern MP crop 2.jpg|frameless|125x125px]]
| [[Minister of State for Employment]]
| Labour market including employer engagement; addressing inactivity; poverty; Jobcentre Plus; devolution; In Work Progression; skills; disability employment; childcare; Access to Work; Youth Offer; Occupational Health and Statutory Sick Pay; conditionality and sanctions 
|-
| [[Sir Stephen Timms]] {{post-nominals|country=GBR|MP}}
|  [[File:Official portrait of Stephen Timms MP crop 2, 2024.jpg|frameless|125x125px]]
| [[Minister of State for Social Security and Disability]]
| Disability policy and cross-government responsibility for disabled people; oversight of Disability Unit, and convenor of Disability Champions; work and health strategy, including sponsorship of the joint Department for Work and Pensions / Department for Health and Social Care Work and Health Unit, and disability benefit reform; disability employment, and disability employment programmes; financial support for those at risk of falling out of work, and disabled claimants including, Disability Living Allowance (DLA), Personal Independence Payment (PIP), Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) and Carer's Allowance (CA); Support for disadvantaged groups; Youth Offer; Government Equalities Office (GEO) lead, Women and the Menopause; Military Covenant; Housing Benefit strategy and delivery, including Support for Mortgage Interest and supported accommodation.<ref>{{cite web |title=Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Disabled People, Health and Work – GOV.UK |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/ministers/parliamentary-under-secretary-of-state-minister-for-disabled-people-health-and-work |website=gov.uk |access-date=26 December 2023 |language=en}} [[File:UKOpenGovernmentLicence.svg|30px]] Text was copied from this source, which is available under an [http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/  Open Government Licence v3.0]. © Crown copyright.</ref>
|-
| [[Torsten Bell]] {{post-nominals|country=GBR|MP}}
| [[File: Official portrait of Torsten Bell MP crop 2.jpg|frameless|125x125px]]
| [[Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Pensions]]
| Private pensions; State Pension; pensioner benefits; Social Fund; Net Zero; Shadow Lords (including Child Maintenance Service and disadvantaged groups); arm's-length bodies (Money and Pensions Service, National Employment Savings Trust, The Pensions Ombudsman, Pension Protection Fund and The Pensions Regulator); HM Treasury responsibilities
|-
|[[Andrew Western]] {{post-nominals|country=GBR|MP}}
|[[File:Official portrait of Andrew Western, 2022 (cropped).jpg|125x125px]]
|[[Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transformation]]
|
|-
| [[Maeve Sherlock| Maeve Sherlock, Baroness Sherlock]]
| [[File:Official portrait of Baroness Sherlock crop 2.jpg|125x125px]]
| [[Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Work and Pensions]]
| Cross-DWP Lords spokesperson, fraud, error and debt strategy, national insurance number policy, oversight of departmental statutory instruments and managing the relationship with the Social Security Advisory Committee, departmental planning and performance management, and departmental business
|}

The [[Permanent Secretary]] is [[Peter Schofield (civil servant)|Sir Peter Schofield]].<ref name=":0">{{cite web|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/appointment-of-peter-schofield-as-permanent-secretary-at-the-department-for-work-and-pensions|title=Appointment of Peter Schofield as Permanent Secretary at the Department for Work and Pensions|last=HM Government|date=2018-01-12|website=gov.uk|language=en|access-date=2018-01-15|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180116081212/https://www.gov.uk/government/news/appointment-of-peter-schofield-as-permanent-secretary-at-the-department-for-work-and-pensions|archive-date=16 January 2018|url-status=live|df=dmy-all}}</ref>

==Pension Service==

With the creation of the department in June 2001, the Pension Service was created, bringing together many different departments and divisions. The Pension Service is a 'dedicated service for current and future pensioners'.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://dwp.gov.uk/about-dwp/ |archive-url=http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20130128102031/http://dwp.gov.uk/about-dwp/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=28 January 2013 |title=[ARCHIVED CONTENT] UK Government Web Archive – The National Archives – About DWP – DWP |publisher=Dwp.gov.uk |date=25 January 2013 |access-date=2 August 2016}}</ref>

The Pension Service consists of local Pension Centres and centrally-based centres, many of latter are based at the [[Tyneview Park]] complex in [[Newcastle upon Tyne]]. The following centres are at Tyneview Park:

* Future Pension Centre (FPC) provides state pension forecasts for people approaching retirement age.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Pensionsandretirementplanning/StatePension/StatePensionforecast/DG_10014008 |title=Get a State Pension statement – GOV.UK |publisher=Direct.gov.uk |date=10 June 2015 |access-date=22 June 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121016171034/http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Pensionsandretirementplanning/StatePension/StatePensionforecast/DG_10014008 |archive-date=16 October 2012 |url-status=live |df=dmy-all }}</ref>
* Newcastle Pension Centre (NPC) originally dealt with the London area, the [[Home Counties]], and part of West Midlands. Now the service is virtual so all pension centres deal with all areas of the country.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Dl1/Directories/DG_180030 |title=Contact the Pension Service – GOV.UK |publisher=Direct.gov.uk |date=12 November 2014 |access-date=22 June 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121003175417/http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Dl1/Directories/DG_180030 |archive-date=3 October 2012 |url-status=live |df=dmy-all }}</ref>
* Pension Tracing Service (PTS) helps track old pensions and pension schemes.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Pensionsandretirementplanning/PlanningForRetirement/AboutToRetire/DG_10027189 |title=Find a lost pension – GOV.UK |publisher=Direct.gov.uk |date=11 December 2014 |access-date=22 June 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120921183128/http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Pensionsandretirementplanning/PlanningForRetirement/AboutToRetire/DG_10027189 |archive-date=21 September 2012 |url-status=live |df=dmy-all }}</ref>
* International Pension Centre (IPC) deals with all enquiries regarding the payment of state pension, bereavement benefits, incapacity benefits and other such benefits for those living abroad.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Dl1/Directories/UsefulContactsByCategory/Over50sContacts/DG_178684 |title=State Pension if you retire abroad – GOV.UK |publisher=Direct.gov.uk |date=2 February 2015 |access-date=22 June 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121002235250/http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Dl1/Directories/UsefulContactsByCategory/Over50sContacts/DG_178684 |archive-date=2 October 2012 |url-status=live |df=dmy-all }}</ref>

Local Pension Centres deal with localised claims for state pension and retirement related benefits. Pension Centres are found all over the country. Benefits dealt with at local Pension Centres include:

* [[Pension Credit]] (replaced a former scheme known as 'Minimum Income Guarantee' in October 2003)
* [[Winter Fuel Payment]]s
* [[Cold Weather Payment]]s

==Disability and Carers Service==
The Disability and Carers Service offers financial support for those who are disabled and their carers, whether in or out of employment. The DCS have offices throughout the country and deal with the following benefits:<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.dwp.gov.uk/lifeevent/benefits/dcs/ |title=Carers and disability benefits – GOV.UK |publisher=Dwp.gov.uk |access-date=22 June 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140712140109/http://www.dwp.gov.uk/lifeevent/benefits/dcs/ |archive-date=12 July 2014 |url-status=live |df=dmy-all }}</ref>

* [[Disability Living Allowance]]
* [[Attendance Allowance]]
* [[Carer's Allowance]]
* [[Vaccine Damage Payment]]
* [[Personal Independence Payment]]

The department has been found to frequently invite disabled people to interviews in buildings which are themselves not accessible to people with disabilities. When the person does not attend the interview they deny the person disability benefits, causing malnutrition and destitution.<ref>{{cite web |last=Ryan |first=Frances |date=24 May 2018 |title=The disability system is blocking people like Jaki from their benefits – literally |url=https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/may/24/scandal-block-disabled-people-benefits-access-assessments |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180524205044/https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/may/24/scandal-block-disabled-people-benefits-access-assessments |archive-date=24 May 2018 |access-date=24 May 2018 |website=[[TheGuardian.com]] |df=dmy-all}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Ryan |first=Frances |date=7 June 2016 |title=PIP is a disaster for disabled people. At last the full horror is emerging &#124; Frances Ryan |url=https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2016/jun/07/pip-disaster-disabled-access-report-benefits |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180525063124/https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2016/jun/07/pip-disaster-disabled-access-report-benefits |archive-date=25 May 2018 |access-date=24 May 2018 |website=[[TheGuardian.com]] |df=dmy-all}}</ref> The DWP systematically underpaid disabled claimants who were transferred from Incapacity Benefit to Employment and Support allowance, risking hardship for claimants. A cross party committee of MPs, the [[Public Accounts Committee (United Kingdom)|Public Accounts Committee]] accused the DWP of a culture of indifference to claimants.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Butler |first=Patrick |date=2018-07-17 |title=Disability claimants owed £340m after DWP blunder, say MPs |url=https://www.theguardian.com/society/2018/jul/18/disability-claimants-owed-340m-after-dwp-blunder-say-mps |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180718105323/https://www.theguardian.com/society/2018/jul/18/disability-claimants-owed-340m-after-dwp-blunder-say-mps |archive-date=2018-07-18 |access-date=2024-12-01 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}</ref>

Since at least 2020 DWP has had a policy of cold-calling vulnerable and disabled people to attempt to pressure them into accepting lower benefit claims than they were legally entitled. In July 2021 the DWP agreed to stop after it was threatened with legal action.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Butler |first=Patrick |date=2021-07-14 |title=DWP policy of cold-calling disabled people over benefit claims to end |url=http://www.theguardian.com/society/2021/jul/14/dwp-policy-of-cold-calling-disabled-people-over-benefit-claims-to-end |access-date=2021-07-19 |website=The Guardian |language=en}}</ref>

===Disability Confident scheme===
DWP administers the Disability Confident scheme, which supports employers to employ people with disabilities and to maintain the employment of staff who become disabled. The scheme operates as three levels:
*Level 1: Disability Confident Committed
*Level 2: Disability Confident Employer
*Level 3: Disability Confident Leader<ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-11-25 |title=How to sign up to the Disability Confident employer scheme |url=https://www.gov.uk/guidance/disability-confident-how-to-sign-up-to-the-employer-scheme |access-date=2024-12-01 |website=GOV.UK |language=en}}</ref>

The scheme is intended to encourage employers to "think differently about disability and take action to improve how they recruit, retain and develop disabled people", but the DWP lost more disability discrimination cases at employment tribunal than any other employer in Britain between 2016 and 2019.<ref>{{cite news |title=DWP to pay £500,000 to disabled civil servant it drove to suicide attempt |url=https://www.disabilitynewsservice.com/dwp-to-pay-500000-to-disabled-civil-servant-it-drove-to-suicide-attempt/ |access-date=8 November 2022 |publisher=Disability News Service |date=3 November 2022}}</ref>

==Tell Us Once==
The DWP introduced the "Tell Us Once" system in 2011 to enable people to use a single interface to inform the government about a change in their personal circumstances. Using 'Tell Us Once', departments and agencies like the pensions service, [[HM Revenue & Customs]], the [[Passport Office]] and [[local authorities]] are informed about a person's change in circumstances in parallel, removing the need for "repeated, unnecessary form-filling".<ref name=cloud>{{OGL-attribution|Crown Commercial Service, [https://www.gov.uk/government/case-studies/g-cloud-cuts-cost-of-dwp-tell-us-once-in-half G-Cloud cuts cost of DWP's 'Tell Us Once' in half], accessed 9 February 2021}}</ref> Local authority departments making use of the service include libraries, housing departments, "[[Blue Badge]]" services and adult social care.<ref>[[London Borough of Sutton]], [https://www.sutton.gov.uk/info/200469/sutton_register_office/1283/deaths_and_tell_us_once/6 Deaths and 'Tell us once'], accessed 5 February 2021</ref>

In most cases, a [[Registrar of Births and Deaths|Registrar of Births, Marriages and Deaths]] will notify a person who registers a death about using the service.<ref>Bereavement Advice Centre, [https://www.bereavementadvice.org/topics/registering-a-death-and-informing-others/the-tell-us-once-service/ The tell us once service], accessed 5 February 2021</ref>

DWP transferred to a cloud-based service in 2016 using the government's [[UK Government G-Cloud|G-Cloud]] purchasing process for IT services. The [[Crown Commercial Service]] states that "cutting administration costs and reducing the overpayments of benefits—usually because of out-of-date records of people's personal circumstances—protected the cross-government savings generated by Tell Us Once, estimated at more than £20 million per year. By switching from a physical infrastructure to a cloud solution, DWP has also benefited from cost savings of around 50% on the IT running costs of Tell Us Once".<ref name=cloud/>

==Former structure==
{{Main article|Pension, Disability and Carers Service}}

Before 2008, The Pension Service and the Disability and Carers Service were two separate [[executive agencies]]; however, it was decided in April 2008 to merge them into one entity named The Pension, Disability and Carers Service.<ref name="Pension, Disability and Carers Service Business Plan 2008/9">{{cite web |url=http://dwp.gov.uk/docs/pdcs-busplan-08-09.pdf |archive-url=https://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/ukgwa/20130213090352/http://dwp.gov.uk/docs/pdcs-busplan-08-09.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-date=13 February 2013 |title=Pension, Disability and Carers Service Business Plan 2008/09 |publisher=DWP |date=July 2008 |access-date=27 August 2024 |via=[[The National Archives (United Kingdom)|The National Archives]]}}</ref>

Both former agencies kept their corporate branding and provided services under their separate identities. The decision was made due to the two agencies sharing about half of the same customers; as a single agency, the rationalisation of services would provide a better service for customers.<ref>{{cite press release |url=http://www.dwp.gov.uk/mediacentre/pressreleases/2008/jan/emp058-220108.asp |date=22 January 2008 |archive-url=https://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/ukgwa/20090605200841/http://www.dwp.gov.uk/mediacentre/pressreleases/2008/jan/emp058-220108.asp |url-status=dead |archive-date=28 January 2013 |title=Joining up to improve service |publisher=DWP |access-date=27 August 2024 |via=[[The National Archives (United Kingdom)|The National Archives]]}}</ref>

The status of PDCS as an executive agency (and its existence as a merged entity) was removed on 1 October 2011 with the functions being brought back inside the department; and both The Pension Service and the Disability and Carers Service becoming distinct entities once again.<ref name="Government announces organisational changes to Jobcentre Plus and the Pension, Disability and Carers Service">{{cite press release |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/government-announces-organisational-changes-to-jobcentre-plus-and-the-pension-disability-and-carers-service |title=Government announces organisational changes to Jobcentre Plus and the Pension, Disability and Carers Service |publisher=DWP |date=12 September 2011 |access-date=27 August 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140317032000/https://www.gov.uk/government/news/government-announces-organisational-changes-to-jobcentre-plus-and-the-pension-disability-and-carers-service |archive-date=17 March 2014 |url-status=live |df=dmy-all }}</ref> Prior to July 2012 the [[Child Support Agency]] was the operating arm of the [[Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission]] (CMEC).

All are now operated wholly from within the department, with the brand names shut down in 2012.

[[Image:QuarryHouseLeeds.jpg|DWP buildings at [[Quarry Hill, Leeds|Quarry Hill]], [[Leeds]]|thumb|300px]]

==Public bodies==
The department's public bodies include:<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dwp.gov.uk/about-dwp/public-bodies/dwp-sponsored-public-bodies/|title=Departments, agencies and public bodies – GOV.UK|access-date=4 May 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110511052904/http://www.dwp.gov.uk/about-dwp/public-bodies/dwp-sponsored-public-bodies/|archive-date=11 May 2011|url-status=live|df=dmy-all}}</ref>

===Executive non-departmental public bodies===
* [[Health and Safety Executive]]
* [[Money and Pensions Service]]
* [[The Pensions Regulator]]

===Advisory non-departmental public bodies===
* [[Social Security Advisory Committee]]

===Tribunals===
* [[Pensions Ombudsman]]

===Public corporations===
* [[National Employment Savings Trust]]
* [[Office for Nuclear Regulation]]
* [[Pension Protection Fund]]

==Estate==
The department has corporate buildings in London, [[Leeds]], [[Blackpool]], [[Glasgow]], [[Aberdeen]], [[Newcastle upon Tyne]], [[Warrington]], [[Manchester]] and [[Sheffield]]. Jobcentre Plus, Child Maintenance Service and other departmental services operate through a network of around 650 Jobcentres and service centres across the UK.

==Budget==
The total annual budget of the department in 2011–12 was £151.6 billion, representing approximately 28% of total UK Government spending.<ref>[http://nds.coi.gov.uk/content/detail.aspx?NewsAreaId=2&ReleaseID=416077&SubjectId=2 News Distribution Service] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120315145651/http://nds.coi.gov.uk/content/detail.aspx?NewsAreaId=2&ReleaseID=416077&SubjectId=2 |date=15 March 2012 }} Retrieved September 2011</ref> The department spends a far greater share of national wealth than any other department in Britain, by a wide margin. The department spends an average of £348.9 million with suppliers per month.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.spendnetwork.com/entity/department_for_work_and_pensions/|title=Open Spending Data bought to life|website=spendnetwork.com|access-date=22 March 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161026183312/http://www.spendnetwork.com/entity/department_for_work_and_pensions/|archive-date=26 October 2016|url-status=live|df=dmy-all}}</ref> The government noted in 2013 that DWP's third-party expenditure was characterised by a number of "complex, high-value contracts".<ref name=tyo>{{OGL-attribution|Cabinet Office, [https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5a7c1c5de5274a1f5cc75da9/SME_Two_Year_On_Report.pdf Making Government business more accessible to SMEs: Two Years On], published on 8 August 2013, accessed on 25 September 2024}}</ref>

A report of February 2012 found that billions of pounds payable had not been claimed. In 2009–2010 the DWP stated £1.95 billion job-seekers allowance, £2 billion income support and employment and support allowance, £2.4 billion in council tax, £2.8 billion in pension credit and £3.1 billion for housing benefit; in total £12.25 billion had not been claimed.<ref>[[BBC]] [https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-17139088 23 February 2012 report] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171018193041/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-17139088 |date=18 October 2017 }} Retrieved 8 July 2012</ref>

==Research==
The department is a major commissioner of external social science research, with the objective of providing the evidence base needed to inform departmental strategy, policy-making and delivery.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dwp.gov.uk/research-and-statistics/|title=Department for Work and Pensions – GOV.UK|access-date=4 May 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110502172119/http://www.dwp.gov.uk/research-and-statistics/|archive-date=2 May 2011|url-status=live|df=dmy-all}}</ref> The department has developed and uses various microsimulation and other models, including the [[Policy Simulation Model]] (for appraisal of policy options), [[Pensim2]] (to create projections of pension entitlements up to 2100) and Inform (to produce the department's benefit caseload forecasts). Datasets held include the [[LLMDB]] and the [[Family Resources Survey]].

During 2012 the department announced records of the number of people born outside of the United Kingdom ("non-UK nationals") claiming work-related benefits from 2011, using data already collated within the department together with those of [[HM Revenue and Customs]] and the [[UK Border Agency]]<ref>Department for Works and Pensions – [http://www.dwp.gov.uk/newsroom/press-releases/2012/jan-2012/dwp005-12.shtml newsroom:20 January 2012] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120713214325/http://www.dwp.gov.uk/newsroom/press-releases/2012/jan-2012/dwp005-12.shtml |date=13 July 2012 }} Retrieved 9 July 2012</ref> (whose duties are now fulfilled by [[UK Visas and Immigration]]).

==Devolution==

===Scotland===
{{See also|Social Security Scotland}}

Employment, health and safety, and social security policy are [[reserved and excepted matters|reserved]] matters of the United Kingdom government. The [[Scotland Act 2016]] devolved specific areas of social security to the [[Scottish Government]] to administer and reform. The [[Scottish Parliament]] passed the [[Social Security (Scotland) Act 2018]] to establish a statutory basis of Social Security in Scotland. This created a principled based legislative agenda for Social Security providing for social security to be a human right in Scotland. Most aspects of social security in Scotland remain reserved to the United Kingdom and those will remain administered by the DWP.

The Act established [[Social Security Scotland]], an executive agency of the Scottish Government.

===Northern Ireland===
[[Northern Ireland]] has parity with Great Britain in three areas:
* [[social security]]
* [[child support]]
* [[pensions]]

Policy in these areas is technically devolved but, in practice, follows policy set by [[Parliament of the United Kingdom|Parliament]] to provide consistency across the United Kingdom.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1998/47/part/VIII/crossheading/social-security-child-support-and-pensions|title=Northern Ireland Act 1998|website=legislation.gov.uk|access-date=22 March 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180323035058/http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1998/47/part/VIII/crossheading/social-security-child-support-and-pensions|archive-date=23 March 2018|url-status=live|df=dmy-all}}</ref> Employment and health and safety policy are fully devolved.

The department's main counterparts in Northern Ireland are:

* the [[Department for Communities]] (administers welfare policy)
* the [[Department for the Economy]] (oversees the [[Health and Safety Executive for Northern Ireland]])

==Supply chain and procurement==
Partners, providers and sub-contractors are used extensively by DWP, for supply of goods and services in general but especially in employment related services. A Code of Conduct aiming to "to ensure excellent sub contractual relationships between the top-tier and high performing third sector and other organisations" working for these schemes was established in the department's 2008 Commissioning Strategy.<ref name=merlinreview>{{OGL-attribution|Department for Work and Pensions and the Centre for Economic & Social Inclusion, [https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5a80e36b40f0b62305b8db62/rr907-review-of-merlin-standard-full-report.pdf Review of the Merlin Standard], Research Report no. 907, published in October 2015, accessed on 22 November 2024}}</ref> This code was subsequently developed into the "Merlin Standard",<ref name=merlinreview/> "a standard of behaviour which DWP prime providers are expected to adhere to in their relationship with their subcontractors ... [and which] is designed to encourage excellence in [[supply chain management]] by prime providers". A "Merlin Standard Advisory Board" was established in July 2011.<ref>{{OGL-attribution|Department for Work and Pensions, [https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-merlin-standard-guide-for-dwp-providers/the-merlin-standard-a-guide-for-dwp-providers The Merlin Standard: Guide for Prime providers], updated on 20 November 2013, officially withdrawn on 4 April 2022, accessed on 22 November 2024}}</ref> The Merlin Standard was replaced with new Provider Guidance in 2013.<ref>DWP, [https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/access-to-work-dwp-provider-guidance Statutory guidance: Access to Work MHSS provider guidance for contracts effective on or before 19 August 2024], updated on 5 August 2024, accessed on 22 November 2024</ref>

DWP contributes to government ambitions to make [[supply chain]]s more accessible to [[small and medium-sized enterprise]]s, but the government commented in 2013 that it had yet to secure good insight into the supply chain role of SMEs.<ref name=tyo/>

==Controversies==
In August 2015, the department admitted using fictional stories from made-up claimants on leaflets advertising the positive impact of benefit sanctions, following a [[Freedom of information in the United Kingdom|Freedom of Information]] request from ''Welfare Weekly'',<ref>{{cite web |url=http://dial2donate.org/dwp-uses-fake-claimants-in-benefit-sanctions-leaflet/ |title=DWP uses fake claimants in benefit sanctions leaflet |publisher=Dial2Donate |access-date=26 August 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160107141650/http://dial2donate.org/dwp-uses-fake-claimants-in-benefit-sanctions-leaflet/ |archive-date=7 January 2016 |url-status=usurped |df=dmy-all }}</ref> claiming that they were for "illustrative purposes only"<ref>{{cite news|author1=Kevin Rawlinson|author2=Frances Perraudin|title=DWP admits inventing quotes from fake 'benefits claimants' for sanctions leaflet|url=https://www.theguardian.com/society/2015/aug/18/dwp-admits-making-up-positive-quotes-from-benefits-claimants-for-leaflet|work=[[The Guardian]]|date=18 August 2015|access-date=14 December 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161201211331/https://www.theguardian.com/society/2015/aug/18/dwp-admits-making-up-positive-quotes-from-benefits-claimants-for-leaflet|archive-date=1 December 2016|url-status=live|df=dmy-all}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|author1=Kevin Rawlinson|title=Fake benefits claimant 'Zac' quoted in other DWP documents|url=https://www.theguardian.com/society/2015/aug/21/fake-benefits-claimant-zac-quoted-in-other-dwp-documents|work=[[The Guardian]]|date=21 August 2015|access-date=14 December 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161201211332/https://www.theguardian.com/society/2015/aug/21/fake-benefits-claimant-zac-quoted-in-other-dwp-documents|archive-date=1 December 2016|url-status=live|df=dmy-all}}</ref> and that it was "quite wrong" to pass these off as genuine quotes.<ref>{{cite news |last=Sparrow |first=Andrew |title=Use of fake quotes in benefits leaflet 'quite wrong', Iain Duncan Smith admits |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2015/aug/24/fake-quotes-benefits-leaflet-wrong-iain-duncan-smith |work=[[The Guardian]] |date=24 August 2015 |access-date=27 August 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305040708/http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2015/aug/24/fake-quotes-benefits-leaflet-wrong-iain-duncan-smith |archive-date=5 March 2016 |url-status=live |df=dmy-all}}</ref>

Later that month figures were released which showed that between December 2011 and February 2014, 2,650 people died shortly after their Work Capability Assessment told them that they should be finding work.<ref>{{Cite web |date=August 2015 |title=Mortality Statistics: Employment and Support Allowance, Incapacity Benefit or Severe Disablement Allowance |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/456359/mortality-statistics-esa-ib-sda.pdf |website=Department for Work & Pensions}}</ref> The DWP had fought hard for the figures not to be released, with chief minister [[Iain Duncan Smith]] at one point telling Parliament that they did not exist.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/over-4000-people-have-died-soon-after-being-found-fit-to-work-by-the-dwps-benefit-tests-10474474.html |title=Thousands have died soon after being found 'fit to work' by the DWP's benefit tests |first=Jon |last=Stone |work=The Independent |date=27 August 2015 |access-date=28 August 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150829225944/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/over-4000-people-have-died-soon-after-being-found-fit-to-work-by-the-dwps-benefit-tests-10474474.html |archive-date=29 August 2015 |url-status=live |df=dmy-all }}</ref>

In 2019, a computer system was introduced but the DWP refused to reveal details. Claimants and their supporters feared it would add to poverty and hardship. [[Frank Field (British politician)|Frank Field]] [[Member of Parliament (United Kingdom)|MP]] stated in early 2020 that claimants, "will be left at the mercy of online systems that, even now, leave all too many people teetering on the brink of destitution. We've already seen, in the gig economy, how workers are managed and sacked, not by people, but by algorithms. Now the welfare state looks set to follow suit, with the 'social' human element being stripped away from 'social security'."<ref>{{Cite web|title=Benefits system automation could plunge claimants deeper into poverty|url=http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2019/oct/14/fears-rise-in-benefits-system-automation-could-plunge-claimants-deeper-into-poverty|date=2019-10-14|website=The Guardian|language=en|access-date=2020-05-19}}</ref>

In 2019, the department was found by an independent inquiry to have broken its own rules, in a case where a disabled woman killed herself in 2017 after her benefits were stopped when she missed a [[Work Capability Assessment]] because she had pneumonia.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-tees-47332954|title=Disabled mum who killed herself failed by benefits agency|date=23 February 2019|website=[[BBC News]]|access-date=23 February 2019}}</ref> Previous research published in the ''[[Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health]]'' by [[Oxford University]] and [[Liverpool University]] had found that there were an additional 590 [[suicide]]s between 2010 and 2013 in areas where such assessments were carried out. The researchers said that the DWP had introduced the policy of moving people off benefits without understanding the consequences.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.thetimes.com/uk/science/article/hundreds-of-extra-suicides-in-fit-to-work-regions-study-finds-8k7ph9ql3k9|title=Hundreds of extra suicides in 'fit to work' regions, study finds|author=David Rankin|date=17 November 2015|work=Times newspapers|access-date=17 November 2015}}</ref> In 2022 the department refused to release data to researchers at [[Glasgow University]] who were investigating if benefit sanctions were linked to suicides. This was despite earlier promises by ministers that they were supporting the researchers.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Butler |first=Patrick |date=2022-03-02 |title=DWP criticised over repeated failure to release data on benefit sanctions |url=https://www.theguardian.com/society/2022/mar/02/dwp-blocks-data-for-study-of-whether-benefit-sanctions-linked-to-suicide |access-date=2022-03-03 |website=The Guardian |language=en}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[Benefit fraud in the United Kingdom]]
* [[Pensions Commission]]
* [[Review Body]]
* [[Pension, Disability and Carers Service]]
* [[Budget of the United Kingdom]]
* [[Welfare rights]]

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
* {{Official website|https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-for-work-pensions}}
* [https://www.youtube.com/user/workandpensions DWP YouTube channel]

{{UK benefits}}
{{Departments of the United Kingdom Government|type=Ministerial}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Department For Work And Pensions}}
[[Category:Department for Work and Pensions| ]]
[[Category:Ministerial departments of the Government of the United Kingdom|Work and Pensions]]
[[Category:Social security in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Pensions in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Social affairs ministries|United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Ministries established in 2001]]
[[Category:2001 establishments in the United Kingdom]]