News from DWP
This page brings you DWP news and announcements.
We also have a news
archive.
Benefit payments over Christmas 2008
18 December 2008
The Department has always ensured that when customers are due payments on a national public holiday when most banks and financial institutions are closed, they have access to their money in advance.
Payments due on Wednesday 24, Thursday 25, and Friday 26 December will be paid on Tuesday 23 December.
Payments due on Thursday 1 January 2009 will be paid on Wednesday 31 December 2008.
Fair rules for our benefits system
10 December 2008
New proposals for reforming the benefits system go further than ever before, offering personalised support for every one who is able to work.
The reforms set out a fair deal for people claiming benefits, with virtually everyone expected to do something in return for their benefits.
Work and Pensions Secretary James Purnell said:
"These reforms will transform people’s lives. We will give people on benefits the personal support they need to help them make a better life for themselves and their families.
“I believe that for the majority, work is part of the path to that better life which is why our reforms put the individual, and their needs, at the heart of the welfare system.”
- Press notice
- White paper Raising expectations and increasing support: reforming welfare for the future
Progress with disability goals
1 December 2008
Eleven Secretaries of State (and Scottish and Welsh Ministers) have published reports which show how they are helping disabled people to achieve equality.
James Purnell’s report is based on DWP’s Departmental Strategic Objectives. Major progress has been made in these areas:
- the employment rate of disabled people has increased by nine percentage points since 1998, to 48 per cent in 2008;
- the new Employment and Support Allowance will help to more people find and stay in work, by focusing on what people can do rather than what they can’t;
- the amount of money disabled people receive through benefits has increased; and
- the creation of the Pension, Disability and Carers Service will give a better service to customers.
To help the government reach its vision of disability equality by 2025, DWP will work with other public authorities on the following areas:
- developing a national strategy for mental health and employment. This will help people of working age with mental health conditions to improve their chances of employment;
- developing a strategy to lift more children out of poverty, including investment and further research to establish new approaches that will impact on disabled children or those children with disabled parents.
- the Pension, Disability and Carers Service will work with Local Authorities, health services and voluntary bodies to improve local services; and
- developing proposals on how to deliver the right to request an individual budget for disabled people.
Find out more about by reading the Secretary of State’s report.
- Secretary of State’s disability equality report (1MB)
- Easy read – Secretary of State’s disability equality report (27KB)
To request this report in alternative formats (Braille, audio) please contact:
Strategy Unit
4th Floor
The Adelphi
1-11 John Adam Street
London
WC2N 6HT
Email simon.boniwell@dwp.gsi.gov.uk
Chancellor's pre-Budget announcement
24 November 2008
The Chancellor has announced an additional payment of £60 to those customers who usually receive a £10 Christmas Bonus. The increase will be paid automatically in the New Year to those customers who qualify. Customers do not need to apply. DWP customers requiring more information can call 0800 141 2591 from Tuesday 25 November.
Judgement announced on overseas State Pension
4 November 2008
Today the European Court of Human Rights delivered its judgement on the case of a UK pensioner who requested a judicial review of the decision not to up-rate her UK State Pension.
We note that the Court has found in favour of the UK Government. We do not plan to make any changes to the current arrangements regarding the freezing of UK State Pensions.
We will, nonetheless, study the terms of the judgement carefully to ensure that we continue to comply with our obligations under the terms of the European Convention on Human Rights.
Employment and Support Allowance
27 October 2008
This week marks the end of Incapacity Benefit for new claimants and the era of writing people off.
Employment and Support Allowance (ESA), which came into force on Monday 27 October, is the dawn of a new benefit designed to give people the support they need to improve their health, their skills and look for work.
The new benefit is aimed at helping the long term sick and unemployed back to work and offering more support to severely disabled people who can not work.
Employment and Support Allowance is tailor made for disabled people and people with ill-health and is part of the Government’s radical welfare reform programme, which aims to get one million people off incapacity benefits by 2015.
A better deal moving in and out of work
20 October 2008
It will now be easier for people moving in and out of work to report their personal information. They will only have to contact Jobcentre Plus once to update their details, ensuring they are getting the right in-work entitlements and that work pays.
Ministers announced the phased national roll-out of the In and Out of Work initiative, planned to be completed over the next 18 months. This follows successful pilots between Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC), the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) and local authorities.
Previously, each relevant organisation had to be notified separately about a change in work circumstances. Now Jobcentre Plus will collect this information once and share it with HMRC and the local authority, reducing the time it takes to make the appropriate alteration to a worker’s benefits by up to 15 per cent.
Research reveals older people have the know-how
1 October 2008
On UK Older People’s Day new research reveals a rich variety of knowledge, culture and practical knowhow being passed down through families.
Family history, practical skills, stories and recipes top the list of hand-me-downs, with nearly three quarters (73%) of people saying this knowledge is more likely to be held by their grandparents’ generation rather than their own.
There’s an appetite to keep this knowledge alive with over three quarters (77%) of us worrying that it may die out.
Pensions Minister Mike O’Brien is calling on younger generations to strengthen their ties with the older people in their lives.
“Swapping stories, skills and ideas across generations gives us an opportunity to discover what we all have in common and appreciate the role older people play in our lives and our communities,” he said.
- The Generation Factor - see the full research report into the knowledge and wisdom passed down through families
1000s of jobs at Glasgow LEP jobsfair
26 September 2008
Thousands of jobs were on offer at the Local Employment Partnership (LEP) jobsfair in Glasgow on 22 September.
The event was the first in the country to be dedicated to businesses that are working in partnership with Government to offer people who have previously been overlooked in the jobs market the opportunity to get into work.
Alastair MacDonald, Customer Services Director of Jobcentre Plus in Scotland opened the event at the Glasgow Thistle Hotel. It was attended by more than 3,600 jobseekers and 50 LEP employers, including Debenhams, Marks & Spencer, Strathclyde Police and the Royal Mail.
- More about Local Employment Partnerships (Jobcentre Plus website)
National Home Energy Saving Campaign
11 September
The Government announced today that Cold Weather Payments will be raised this year from £8.50 to £25 a week. Full details about the National Home Energy Saving Programme can be found on the Defra website.
- Defra press release (Defra)
- Cold weather Payments (Directgov)
Support for Mortgage Interest (SMI)
2 September 2008
Support for Mortgage Interest (SMI) can be paid to people on Income Support, Pension Credit and income-based Jobseeker's Allowance 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.
Presently, working age homeowners have to wait 39 weeks before help towards their mortgage is paid. As a temporary measure, from April 2009 that waiting period will be cut to 13 weeks for all new working age claims. In addition, as a temporary measure, also from April 2009, the capital limit on loans upon which SMI is based will be increased from £100,000 to £175,000 for new working age claims.
Pensioners getting pension credit do not have to wait to get help with their mortgage interest payments.
From April 2009 there will be a time limit on SMI of two years for new Jobseeker’s Allowance claims only. Time-limiting will not apply to existing claims or to new claims from those in receipt of Income Support, Pension Credit or income-related Employment and Support Allowance when it is introduced on October 2008.
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 or 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. You can find your nearest office in the phone book or by visiting the Jobcentre Plus website www.jobcentreplus.gov.uk.
Over 60s – don't miss out on extra cash
26 August 2008
Older people are being urged to claim Pension Credit while they may still be able to benefit from up to a year’s backdated lump sum.
Pensions Minister Mike O’Brien said that many older people mistakenly think that owning their own home or having some savings automatically rules them out from getting any Pension Credit to top up their income. In fact around 2.7 million pensioner households are receiving on average around £50 in Pension Credit every week.
Mike O’Brien said: “It’s vital that older people claim money that’s rightfully theirs to help with their day-to-day needs.”
Get your increased Winter Fuel Payment before Christmas
22 August 2008
Older people are being urged to claim their Winter Fuel Payments, increased for this winter, to help them with higher energy costs.
For households with someone aged 60-79 it will increase from £200 to £250 and for those with someone aged 80 and over, it will increase from £300 to £400.
Those already in receipt of the payment will receive it automatically and do not need to contact the department unless their circumstances have changed.
Pensions Minister Mike O’Brien said:
“We’re spending an extra £575 million to increase Winter Fuel Payments this year to help pensioners facing increases in their energy bills. If you haven’t received a Winter Fuel Payment before you need to apply by September 19 to receive your payment before Christmas.”
James Purnell – Welfare Reform consultation events
12 August 2008
- 13 August – James Purnell, Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, answers questions from the readers of the Halifax Evening Courier, Bristol Evening Post and Glasgow Evening Times
- 14 August – James Purnell, Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, listens to feedback from Netmums on the government’s proposals for helping mums back to work.