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This page brings you DWP news and announcements.
Payment arrangements during the possible Royal Mail dispute
9 October 2009
The Pension Service website has closed
1 October 2009
On 30 September the website for The Pension Service closed.
All government information for citizens about Pensions, Retirement and Later Life is now available Directgov.
All government information for employers about Pensions, Retirement and Later Life is now available on Business Link.
Corporate information about The Pension Service has moved to the About DWP section of the DWP website.
Anyone who tries to visit The Pension Service site will find a page signposting them to the relevant information on Directgov, Business Link or the DWP main site.
This is part of a wider long-term government plan to move customer-facing online information onto Directgov. DWP is setting a good example by taking the lead and moving towards this goal.
DWP sickness absence statistics to 30 June 2009
25 September 2009
The Department for Work and Pensions has reported its latest quarterly figures on the level of sickness absence in its workforce to the Cabinet Office. In the 12 months to 30 June 2009, the average level of sickness absence was 8.5 days per staff year. This is a reduction of 0.4 days from the previous report for March and a cumulative reduction of 1.4 days over the past 12 months.
85,000 opportunities for young people
2 September 2009
Government and employers have today thrown their weight behind the Backing Young Britain campaign and pledged an extra 85,000 job and training opportunities for young people:
- Morrisons have pledged new training for every one of its 36,000 employees under the age of 25
- Government is providing help to get 45,000 young people into jobs in retail, tourism, leisure and hospitality
- Companies including Centrica, Carillion and Royal Mail are creating new apprenticeships.
Other employers backing the campaign, and pledging support include Microsoft, Bovis Lendlease, Pfizer and Phones4U.
Yvette Cooper, Secretary of State for Work and Pensions said:
"We will not lose a generation of young people to work because of the global recession. We already have over 150 of Britain’s top employers signing up to Backing Young Britain to create opportunities for young people. It is crucial for all of us that we make sure we do everything we can to harness the skills and talent of young people now so that we can all benefit in the future. We are acting now so that unemployment does not scar families, communities and the economy for generations."
- Backing Young Britain website
- 150 Top British employers backing young Britain – 85,000 opportunities pledged for young people press release
Liz Snape reappointed to HSE board
The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, Yvette Cooper, has announced that Liz Snape has been reappointed to the Board of the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).
Currently the Director of Policy and Political Affairs at Unison, Liz’s involvement with the trades union movement stretches back 25 years during which she has been a passionate advocate of workers rights, especially within the public sector.
Liz joined the then Health and Safety Commission (HSC) in 2003 and was reappointed in 2006. When the HSC and the Health and Safety Executive merged on 1 April 2008, her appointment was transferred to the merged HSE. Following an open competition exercise, Liz has now been reappointed to the HSE for an additional three years as a non-executive board member.
- Health and Safety Executive press release (HSE website)
Backing Young Britain
30 July 2009
Government and business are uniting to create thousands of opportunities for young people.
Launching the "Backing Young Britain" campaign Ministers announced:
- £40 million to fund over 20,000 additional internships so that graduates and non graduates can get higher quality work experience
- a new mentoring network to help young people find their feet in a tough jobs market
- more help for young people from day one of unemployment through job clubs and one to one support in jobcentres for those leaving education this summer.
Ministers also announced the first 47,000 youth jobs supported by the Future Jobs Fund for young people who are unable to find work or training within a year.
- Backing Young Britain website
- Government and businesses unite to back young Britain press release
- Future Jobs Fund
The DWP website has changed
We have launched a new-look DWP website. We hope you like it.
The biggest change is that our benefits and services information for citizens has moved to Directgov. Directgov brings government information for citizens together in one place. Our jobs, benefits and pensions page will help you find this information on Directgov.
The new DWP site presents:
- DWP’s vision, aims and values
- DWP news stories and press releases
- Consultations and policy development
- Publications
- Research and statistics
- Information for a range of professional partners and stakeholders.
New features
‘Browse by your role’ button on every page – to get straight to information for specialist audiences.
DWP press releases RSS feed | What is RSS?
We hope you’ll find the new website easy to use. Email us if you have any comments or feedback.
Building a Society for all Ages
13 July 2009
The Government has today launched its strategy ‘Building a Society for All Ages’ which outlines a series of proposals to help Britain prepare for an enormous demographic change which sees people living longer than ever before.
Improving the quality of later life has long been a priority and the strategy builds on the significant progress made in this area over recent years. It calls for a major cultural shift to create a society for all ages, where people are not defined by their age but where their skills and experiences are harnessed for the benefit of Britain as a whole.
Key elements of the strategy involve providing support to people to look forward and plan earlier for their longer lives, and making sure that services are suitable when the time comes to use them. It brings forward a review of the Default Retirement Age which had been due to start in 2011, in response to a changing economic landscape.
The strategy draws on extensive discussion that has taken place over the past year and the Government plans to work with all sectors of society to start a national debate about how we can turn this vision into reality.
Building Britain’s Future
30 June 2009
The Prime Minister has published the Government's plan for "Building Britain's Future" which sets out a series of measures to drive economic growth, help create jobs and get people back into work.
Secretary of State Yvette Cooper outlined what the Government was committed to:
- Guaranteeing a sixth form, college or apprenticeship place to all school leavers. From next year, every person under 25 who has been out of work for a year will have to take a job, training, or work experience place.
- Adults who have been out of work for six months will get help with setting up a business, skills training, or volunteering opportunities.
- The £1 billion Future Jobs Fund will provide 100,000 jobs for young people and a further 50,000 new jobs in areas of high unemployment.
Real help for over 60s
23 June 2009
When times are tough it is important people know where to turn to get all the help and advice they need. That is why the Government has today launched a booklet for people aged over 60 pulling together in one place all the help that is available to them.
The 40-page booklet “Real Help Now for over 60s” provides information on everything you need to know from claiming Pension Credit, to help with your fuel bills, to help in taking that course on IT you’ve always wanted to do.
- Real help now for over 60s booklet (Real help now website)
DWP sickness absence statistics to 31 March 2009
18 June 2009
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has reported its latest quarterly figures on the level of sickness absence in its workforce to the Cabinet Office. In the 12 months to 31 March 2009, the average level of recorded sickness absence was 8.9 days annually per staff year. This is a reduction of 0.4 days from the previous report for December and a reduction of 1.2 days from the corresponding figure one year ago. DWP has now reported a reduction in sickness absence for six successive quarters.
National Insurance Recording System upgrade – effect on DWP services
12 June 2009
New customers may experience slight disruption to our services in June as a result of an upgrade to HMRC's National Insurance Recording System. Our staff often access the NIRS database to help process certain contribution based benefits such as Jobseekers Allowance (JSA), Employment Support Allowance (ESA) and the state pension.
The system will be unavailable to DWP staff between noon on 19 June until noon on 24 June (within HMRC it will be down for longer). During this time current customers should be unaffected, but new JSA and ESA customers will be asked to provide their P60 (annual pay statement) so that staff can establish details of their National Insurance records and assess their entitlement to benefit. Where someone is not able to provide a P60 they may be asked for wage slips or full details of previous employment so that we can write to their employer for the information. Other than the customer being asked to provide their P60 during this period there should be no other changes to our services.
Existing payments of pensions will not be affected and state pension applications and changes can still be made, however online pension forecasting will not be available for the period of the disruption. This service will still be available on telephone at 0845 3000168.
The system, once upgraded, will provide a much more efficient service to both our customers and HMRC's. We apologise for any inconvenience caused.
DWP sickness absence statistics
The Department for Work and Pensions has reported its latest quarterly figures on the level of sickness absence in its workforce to the Cabinet Office. In the 12 months up to 31 December 2008, the average level of recorded sickness absence was 9.3 days annually per staff year. This reflects a decrease on the 9.6 days reported in December for the year up to 30 September 2008; sickness absence in the Department has now fallen for five consecutive quarters.
The Department's Head of Health, Safety and Wellbeing, Jonathan Russell said: "This continued improvement is welcome and is a tribute to the efforts our people are making to manage sickness absences. Nevertheless, we will continue our efforts to further reduce sickness absence, through our Wellbeing framework, effective health and safety management, and dealing with attendance issues promptly and constructively."
Make a splash with free swimming
31 March 2009
More than 20 million people can swim for free in England from 1 April.
As part of the Government’s free swimming programme, almost 300 local councils are providing swimming free of charge for people 60 and over. More than 200 of those also offer free swimming to 16s and under.
Secretary of State for Work and Pensions James Purnell said:
"Swimming is an excellent way to keep fit and healthy in later life and that’s why the DWP is contributing £22m towards the Government's free swimming initiative. I know many over 60s enjoy making a splash in their local pool, and from today I hope that millions more will be able to take the plunge."
- Find out where you can swim for free (Department for Culture, Media and Sport website)
- Press release (Department for Culture, Media and Sport website)
A stronger voice for older people
3 February 2009
Older people are to have a bigger say in developing central, regional and local Government policies announced Rt Hon Rosie Winterton, Minister for Pensions and the Ageing Society today, in response to John Elbourne’s review of older people’s engagement with Government.
A new national UK Advisory Forum on Ageing will give older people a direct line to Government to comment on new policy ideas, services, legislation and what areas they feel the Government needs to address. The Forum will have a clear focus on helping to improve the wellbeing of older people and addressing the opportunities and challenges of an ageing society.
- Press release
- John Elbourne's report – Review of Older People's Engagement with Government (350KB)
- Empowering engagement: a stronger voice for older people (814KB) the Government Response to John Elbourne's Review of Older People's Engagement with Government
Support for Mortgage Interest – update
27 January 2009
If a homeowner with a mortgage gets Income Support, income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance, income-related Employment and Support Allowance or Pension Credit, their benefit may include an additional element called Support for Mortgage Interest (SMI). SMI is meant to assist the homeowner with the interest on their mortgage. SMI is calculated using a standard interest rate.
On 24 November 2008, the Chancellor made clear in the Pre-Budget Report that the Government will maintain the level of support for mortgage interest based on a standard interest rate of 6.08 per cent for six months.
Some people will experience a temporary drop below 6.08 per cent because our IT systems normally track the Bank of England base rate, which was reduced from 6 November. It takes time to adapt our IT systems, but we are taking urgent action to ensure that customers do not lose out, and that cases are corrected to reflect the Chancellor’s commitment. Overall people will receive 6.08 per cent support.
More information on SMI
New Opportunities webchat
20 January 2009
Liam Byrne, Minister for the Cabinet Office, took questions on social mobility and the Government's New Opportunities White Paper in a live Number 10 webchat on 20 January 2009.
Support for Mortgage Interest (SMI)
16 January 2009
Support for Mortgage Interest (SMI) can be paid to people on Income Support, income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance, income-related Employment and Support Allowance and Pension Credit if they are experiencing problems with the interest payments on their mortgage.
On 2 September the Government announced reforms to the system to more accurately reflect the value of people’s property and reduce the waiting time before help from SMI kicks in.
From 5 January 2009:
- the waiting period for which homeowners have to wait before help towards their mortgage is paid is cut from 39 weeks to 13 weeks for all new working age claims
- the capital limit on loans for which SMI can be paid is increased from £100,000 to £200,000 for new working age claims
- the Standard Rate of Interest which is used as the basis to calculate SMI is frozen at 6.08 per cent for the next six months for all customers.
Pensioners getting Pension Credit do not have to wait to get help with their mortgage interest payments.
From 5 January 2009 there will be a time limit on SMI of 104 weeks for new Jobseeker’s Allowance claims only. Time-limiting will not apply to existing claims or to new claims for Income Support, Pension Credit or income-related Employment and Support Allowance.
The Government will keep this system of support under review.
If you are of working age you can also telephone or visit your local Jobcentre Plus office. Whether you are already working or looking for work, the staff there will be able to tell you about any benefits you can claim.
Find your nearest office in the phone book or visit the Jobcentre Plus website.
Building fair chances for the future
13 January 2009
Plans to create opportunity and ensure people have the best chance of fulfilling their potential in the future have been launched today by the Prime Minister. The New Opportunities White Paper sets out the Government's agenda for capturing the jobs of the future and investing in families, communities and citizens throughout their lives to help them get on and get ahead.
- New Opportunities: Fair chances for the future White Paper (HMG website)
Government helps people back to work
12 January 2009
Jobseekers who find themselves unemployed for more than six months will be guaranteed more support, so they can get back into work, the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions told an Employment Summit led by the Prime Minister today.
The proposals, which will see ?0.5bn invested over two years, will be targeted at those who have been out of the job market for six months or more.
As well as extra funds for Jobcentre Plus to provide every jobseeker who has been out of work for six months more intensive and personalised support, the package will include giving individuals access to "Employers' Golden Hellos", new training places and cash to start-up your own business.
