Tag: Department for Work and Pensions

The press release issued by the Department for Work and Pensions on 25 April 2023.

This is first of three new Cost of Living payments adding up to £900 in 2023/24 – though some people will receive up to £1,350.

• Over 8 million households to receive £301 from the Government with payments hitting bank accounts from today
• Those eligible will be paid between Tuesday 25 April and Wednesday 17 May, with HMRC making payments to tax credit-only customers between Tuesday 2 and Tuesday 9 May

Over eight million households across the UK will receive a £301 Cost of Living Payment from the Government, with payments rolled out from today, demonstrating the Government’s relentless focus on our five priorities – including halving inflation, growing the economy and reducing debt.

As the cost of living continues to affect families across the UK, these payments are designed to target support towards the most vulnerable in society and provide them with a financial boost.

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) will send payments automatically and directly to recipients’ bank accounts, with a reference of their National Insurance number followed by ‘DWP COL’.

This is the first of up to three payments for those eligible on means-tested benefits, including Universal Credit, Pension Credit and tax credits, totalling £900 through 2023/24. These will be accompanied by a £150 payment for people on eligible disability benefits this summer, and a £300 payment on top of Winter Fuel Payments for pensioners at the end of 2023.

This builds on the significant cost of living support already provided to eligible households throughout 2022 – now worth an average of £3,300 per household over this year and last.

Those entitled do not need to do apply for the payment or do anything to receive it. Payments made during this window will be staggered over the next couple of weeks meaning not everyone entitled to receive a payment will receive it today.

Mel Stride, Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, said:

This latest additional payment will be welcomed by millions of families – as will further payments due over the next year.

We have continually supported those most vulnerable to rising costs, including through record benefits and national living wage increases as well as these exceptional Cost of Living Payments responding to the global pressures we are facing.

We will also continue to deliver on our five priorities, including halving inflation, as this will ease pressure on households currently struggling with household bills and rising prices.

Jeremy Hunt, Chancellor of the Exchequer, added:

The best thing we can do to help people’s money go further is deliver on our priorities to halve inflation and grow the economy.

But we’re also here to help people through these tough times, which is why we’re holding down energy bills, freezing fuel duty, increasing Universal Credit, and giving £900 payments to low income and vulnerable families – all in part funded through windfall taxes on energy profits.

People will be eligible for the Cost of Living Payment if they have been entitled to a payment for one of seven benefits between 26 January and 25 February 2023. The eligible benefits are:

• Universal Credit;
• Pension Credit;
• Income-based Jobseekers Allowance;
• Income-related Employment and Support Allowance;
• Income Support;
• Working Tax Credit;
• Child Tax Credit.

Once the majority of those who are entitled to a payment by DWP have been paid, HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) will make payments of £301 between Tuesday 2 and Tuesday 9 May to one million eligible families receiving tax credits only, with the banking reference ‘HMRC COLS’.

The latest payment follows on from the £650 Cost of Living Payment delivered by the Government in 2022, along with another £150 disability payment and a £300 pensioner payment.

While payments are made automatically, people must be receiving one of the eligible qualifying benefits during the specified period to qualify. Those who wish to check their entitlement to benefits should use a benefits calculator on Gov.uk to get a better idea of what they could receive.

Low-income pensioners particularly should check their eligibility for Pension Credit, as they may still be able to receive the £301 Cost of Living Payment, and subsequent payments, if they make a successful backdated application by 19 May 2023.

Those in need are also encouraged to contact their local council to see if any additional support is available in their local area, such as through the DWP’s Household Support Fund in England, worth over £2 billion across its lifetime.

The press release issued by the Department for Work and Pensions on 12 April 2023.

An estimated five million Cold Weather Payments worth £130 million have been issued to households for support with energy bills this winter.

• Over five million £25 Cold Weather Payments have been made to households in England and Wales
• Almost two million payments made to pensioners and over three million to working-age households
• Cold Weather Payments are paid directly into people’s bank accounts between November and March

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) estimates that over £130 million was paid out from November until the end of March – with over £40 million of this going to pensioners in receipt of Pension Credit.

DWP’s Cold Weather Payments are an automatic bank top-up of £25, triggered to be paid to eligible households when the average temperature has been recorded as, or is forecast to be, zero degrees Celsius or below for seven consecutive days at the weather station linked to an eligible person’s postcode.

Around 80% of this winter’s payments – approximately four million – were triggered in December.

Minister for Pensions Laura Trott said:

Cold Weather Payments provide vital support to help people through cold snaps each Winter.

While those colder months are now thankfully behind us, there will be no let-up in our extensive support for households across the country.

This government is committed to helping the most vulnerable in our society. We’re delivering the biggest State Pension increase in history and boosting benefits by over 10 percent, while our Energy Price Guarantee will continue to hold down people’s energy bills.

Between 25 April and 17 May, millions of UK households will receive £301 directly from the DWP. This is the first of three payments totalling up to £900 for those eligible and on means-tested benefits, such as Universal Credit or Pension Credit, in 2023/24. This follows the £650 Cost of Living Payment made to over eight million people in 2022. There will also be further payments worth £150 for eligible disabled people and £300 for pensioners due later this year, meaning the most vulnerable can receive up to £1,350 in direct payments.

The press release issued by the Department for Work and Pensions on 3 April 2023.

An additional 200,000 Universal Credit claimants will be able to access quicker support with their mortgage from today.

• Support for Mortgage Interest loan scheme extended to 200,000 additional Universal Credit claimants in efforts to support more households with the cost of living
• They will be able to access help towards mortgage interest on their home or certain home improvements worth up to £200,000 after three months on Universal Credit
• Support will be automatically offered to qualifying claimants after three months on Universal Credit

Previously, claimants would need to have been unemployed for nine months before they could access a Support for Mortgage Interest loan, which helps them cover interest payments for a mortgage, or a home repairs and improvements loan, whilst they seek work.

Today’s reforms, which were announced in the Chancellor’s Autumn Statement, mean claimants will be able to receive the support after just three months of being on Universal Credit, and in another change they now do not have to be unemployed to do so. They will also be able to re-claim the support if they leave Universal Credit but return within six months.

Mims Davies, Minister for Social Mobility, Youth and Progression, said:

The fear of losing your home when you have fallen on difficult times is incredibly stressful and makes getting back on your feet all the more difficult.

This increased support is an important lifeline to help provide stability for those who are seeking to find work and move back towards long-term prosperity.

Support for Mortgage Interest loans will now be automatically offered to claimants by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) if they qualify after three months on Universal Credit – they do not need to do anything to receive this offer.

The loans are designed to help claimants with the interest on mortgages or loans for certain home improvements, such as repairs or improvements to keep their home habitable or to adapt them for people with disabilities, whilst they are on Universal Credit. Even if claimants reject the offer of a loan initially, as long as they are still eligible, they can start claiming it at any point.

The loan needs to be repaid when claimants sell their home, though no one will be asked to sell their home in order to repay it. If needed, claimants can contact the DWP about transferring the loan to a new home.

More widely, the Government is projected to have spent £28.5 billion supporting renters in 2022/23, whilst the Affordable Homes Programme, worth £11.5 billion, will deliver more affordable homes across the country, including tens of thousands for social rent.

The Government has also provided over £1.5 billion for Discretionary Housing Payments since 2012, whilst Local Housing Allowance rates were increased above inflation during the pandemic and have been maintained since to provide housing support to Universal Credit claimants.

Additional Information

• Support for Mortgage Interest loans are available for people on the following qualifying benefits:
• Universal Credit
• Income Support
• Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
• Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
• Pension Credit
• For more information on Support for Mortgage Interest, please visit www.gov.uk/support-for-mortgage-interest or speak to your work coach.
• Support for Mortgage Interest payments are made directly to the lender every month.
• Today’s changes come in addition to extensive support with the Cost of Living, including a year-long extension to the Household Support Fund. Worth over £2 billion in its lifetime, the fund is designed to help the most vulnerable with the cost of food and energy essentials.
• And the Government is directly paying £301 to over 8 million people on means-tested benefits from 25 April to help with the cost of living. Further payments worth £300 and £299 will be made later in the financial year, whilst additional payments of £300 for pensioners and £150 for disabled people will also be made in 2023, meaning some people will receive up to £1,350 in direct Government support.

The press release issued by the Department for Work and Pensions on 2 April 2023.

A new review designed to boost the employment prospects of autistic people has today been launched by the Government.

• Sir Robert Buckland KC MP to lead new Autism Employment Review
• Focus on supporting employers to recruit and retain autistic people and reap benefits of a neurodiverse workforce
• Recommendations for change to be brought to Government later this year

A new review designed to boost the employment prospects of autistic people has been launched by the Government to spread opportunity, close the employment gap and grow the economy.

The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, Mel Stride MP, has appointed Sir Robert Buckland KC MP to lead the review, which will consider how the Government can work with employers to help more autistic people realise their potential and get into work.

People with autism have particularly low employment rates – with fewer than three in 10 in work – but the Buckland Review of Autism Employment, supported by charity Autistica and the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), is aiming to change that.

The Review will ask businesses, employment organisations, specialist support groups and autistic people to help identify the barriers to securing and retaining work and progressing with their careers.

The Minister for Disabled People, Health and Work, Tom Pursglove MP said:

We know autistic people can face barriers moving into employment and staying there. This is often down to the employers themselves not having the tools to support autistic people, or truly understanding the value of a neurodiverse workforce.

This important review will provide us with vital information to remove these barriers and help more autistic people start, stay and succeed in work by ensuring more employers provide truly inclusive places to work. I look forward to seeing the recommendations from the review.

Rt Hon Sir Robert Buckland KC MP said:

I am delighted to have been asked to lead this important Review. Our workplaces and businesses would benefit so much from the huge potential that autistic people represent.

If we close the employment gap for autistic people, it will not just mean individual fulfilment but a significant boost to employment and productivity for our country.

The Buckland Review of Autism Employment will consider issues including:

• how employers identify and better support autistic staff already in their workforce;
• what more could be done to prepare autistic people effectively for beginning or returning to a career;
• and working practices or initiatives to reduce stigma and improve the productivity of autistic employees.

It will focus specifically on autistic people, and aim to develop solutions that:

• will be acceptable to autistic people.
• will be effective at improving autistic people’s outcomes.
• will be feasible for employers or public services to deliver.

The Review will also look at employers who are benefitting from a neurodiverse workforce, like London manufacturer KwickScreen. The innovative company provides transparent screens to every UK hospital and played a pivotal role in the NHS’s response to the Covid pandemic.

On a recent visit to their Lewisham base, the Minister and Sir Robert discovered many of the breakthrough initiatives in the company came from the neurodiverse members of the team.

Dr James Cusack, Chief Executive of the UK autism research and campaigning charity, Autistica said:

The benefits for autistic people and society will be huge if we can give autistic people the opportunity to work and thrive in employment. That’s why as a charity we want to see a doubling of the employment rate for autistic people by 2030.

We are delighted to support the government on this vital review which will enable us to move from awareness to evidence-based action. This will help us to rethink how we approach autistic people’s access to work and perhaps drive a wider rethink around how we accommodate everyone in work, as we all think differently with unique strengths, challenges and needs.

As part of the review, many of the adjustments and initiatives that would benefit autistic people could also benefit a wider group of people who think differently, including those with other neurodevelopmental conditions such as ADHD, dyslexia and dyspraxia.

The press release issued by the Department of Work and Pensions on 1 April 2023.

An additional £842 million is available from today (1 April 2023) to help the most vulnerable households across England with essential food and energy costs.

• Department for Work and Pensions’ £842 million Household Support Fund extension comes into effect today
• Extra money given to councils to provide further help to most in need with essential food and energy costs until 31 March 2024
• Vulnerable households and families encouraged to check their council website for details of support available

The funding, allocated by the Department for Work and Pensions to councils in England, will extend the Household Support Fund for another year.

Councils in England will decide how best to spend their allocation of the fund – now worth £2 billion across its lifetime – by drawing from local knowledge and making direct contact with people in the community.

They will be able to support the most vulnerable households in their local area – helping them with the cost of essentials like groceries, toiletries, and warm clothes, as well as providing further support with energy bills.

People can find out how much their area was awarded at gov.uk and are advised to check their council’s website or call their office to find out what support is available locally to them through the Household Support Fund.

Mims Davies MP, DWP Minister for Social Mobility, Youth and Progression, said:

This significant extension to the Government’s Household Support Fund is hugely welcome – as it has already helped millions of vulnerable families across England through these financially-testing times and will continue to do so over the next year.

Last week, I visited one council that is using their allocation to well on a range of issues from food insecurity to tackling bed poverty.

There, the Household Support Fund has resulted in hundreds of cots and beds being provided to vulnerable households to increase comfort and wellbeing.

This is just one example of the important locally led schemes providing tailored support help to those that need it most in challenging times.

This fund is of course just one part of our extensive Cost of Living support package for families that is complementing our efforts to halve inflation – one of the Prime Minister’s top priorities – to reduce prices for us all.

Devolved administrations have also been allocated funding in parallel as a result of the Barnett Formula to spend at their discretion, bringing the total amount of new funding to almost £1 billion.

The press release issued by the Department for Work and Pensions on 30 March 2023.

• State Pension age rise to 67 will take place as planned between 2026-2028.
• Review within two years of next Parliament to reconsider rise to age 68.
• Delivers on Government responsibility to ensure the State Pension remains sustainable and fair across the generations.

The Government has confirmed the State Pension age will rise to 67 by the end of 2028, following a review published today.

After carefully considering expert evidence, including two independent reports, the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions has concluded the planned pension age rise from 66 to 67 for those born after April 1960 remains appropriate.

The Pensions Act 2014 requires the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions to regularly review State Pension age. To inform this Review, two independent reports were commissioned – analysis from the Government Actuary based on life expectancy projections and the proportion of adult life spent in retirement, and findings from Baroness Neville-Rolfe which considered relevant factors including life-expectancy trends.

As the number of people over State Pension age increases, the Government must ensure it remains sustainable and fair for current and future generations.

The Government plans to have a further review within two years of the next Parliament to reconsider the rise to age 68.

This gives the Government appropriate time to take into account evidence which is not yet available on the long-term impact of recent challenges, including the Covid pandemic and global inflationary pressures. These events bring a level of uncertainty in relation to the current data on life expectancy, labour markets and the public finances.

This will ensure that the Government is able to consider the latest information to inform any future decision on the State Pension age. This will include life expectancy and population projections updated with 2021 Census data and the latest demographic trends, the economic position and the impact on the labour market of the recently announced package of measures to tackle inactivity.

Given the wide-ranging impacts of changing the State Pension age, it is important to take the time to get any changes right.

Secretary of State for Work and Pensions Mel Stride said:

It’s essential the State Pension remains sustainable and fair across the generations. Our balanced approach will help achieve this and ensure we continue to provide security and dignity in retirement for millions of people across the country.

The Government remains committed to the principle of providing 10 years notice of changes to State Pension age, enabling people to plan effectively for retirement. All options for the rise to the State Pension age from 67 to 68 that meet the 10 years notice period will be in scope at the next review.

The press release issued by the Department for Work and Pensions on 20 March 2023.

An extra £22 million is being invested to extend free and impartial support for people making a Universal Credit claim.

• Over three quarters of a million people have already received support though Help to Claim.
• The support, now in its fifth year and delivered by Citizens Advice, provides support to guide people through the Universal Credit claim process.
• DWP is extending this with a further £22 million of investment to support people to make a new Universal Credit claim.

The ‘Help to Claim’ support will continue to be delivered independently for another year by Citizens Advice and Citizens Advice Scotland, following a further £22 million investment by the department. Citizens Advice have provided the Help to Claim support since its inception in 2019.

This additional investment will ensure that support is available to help people make a new Universal Credit claim and manage their claim until they receive their first payment.

Minister for Employment, Guy Opperman MP, said:

Help to Claim continues to assist thousands of people every year with over 800,000 people already receiving support since its introduction.

This additional investment will allow Citizens Advice to continue to provide this vital support following its extension for a further year.

This high quality and independent support comes in addition to the support already provided through our network of Jobcentres, with our staff standing ready to assist those in need of support.

Dame Clare Moriarty, Chief Executive of Citizens Advice, said:

As the cost of living continues to put household finances under pressure, our top priority is supporting the many people coming to us for help.

We’re glad to continue this important support. We’ve seen first-hand the difference our advisers make in helping people access Universal Credit.

We’ll continue to use our frontline insights and unique data to suggest enhancements to the benefits system, further helping the people we support.

People will be able to access the support and advice online or by telephone. For those who are unable to access support via these channels, individuals will be able to contact their local Jobcentre, where staff will help to identify the right support to meet their needs.

DWP remains committed to providing the best possible support for all claimants, including the most vulnerable in society, in both making and maintaining their Universal Credit claim.

Find out more about Help to Claim and how to access support online.

The press release issued by the Department for Work and Pensions on 16 March 2023.

Millions of people will benefit from specific support to look for work, acquire new skills and progress into better-paid jobs.

• Interventions focus on removing barriers to work for people at any age and career stage
• Parents on Universal Credit will be further supported with upfront childcare costs
• Boost to employment support for disabled people and those with health conditions building on reforms in landmark White Paper

Parents, over-50s, disabled people and those with long-term health conditions will have opportunities arising from changes announced in the Budget set to be delivered by the Department for Work and Pensions.

Overall, DWP measures at Budget represent an investment of £3.5 billion over five years to boost workforce participation and grow the economy. That includes:

• £2 billion investment in support for disabled people and people with long-term health conditions.
• £900 million investment in support for parents on Universal Credit.
• £70 million investment in support for over-50s.
• £485 million investment in support for unemployed people and people who are on Universal Credit and working fewer than full time hours.

Taken together, these measures tackle the challenges in the labour market, which are holding back the UK’s economic prospects, helping millions of people with specific support to look for work and progress into better-paid jobs.

Work and Pensions Secretary, Mel Stride MP said:

We know many people want to work but there are very real barriers we need to break down to help them into employment.

This package of support helps people at any age and career stage to get into work, progress into better-paid jobs – growing the economy and filling the labour market with skilled employees.

These interventions are only the start of a long-term journey to drive down economic inactivity and mobilise more people into seeking employment, which I will continue to lead across Government.

Childcare

Parents on Universal Credit looking to move into full-time work will no longer be prevented from doing so because of high childcare costs.

The Universal Credit childcare cost cap will rise in the summer meaning the Government will pay more of parents’ childcare costs. For those with one child it rises from £646.35 to £951 and for two children the cap is up from £1,108.04 to £1,630, then increasing in line with CPI each year until 2027/28.

Parents will also be further supported with upfront childcare costs. This removes any gap in funds which would currently be claimed in arrears and eases parents into the childcare costs payment cycle.

Disabled people and people with health conditions

The Health and Disability White Paper, included as part of the Budget, sets out plans to rewire the benefits system for disabled people, shifting the dial onto what people can achieve and removing barriers to work.

A major element of this will be through the removal of the Work Capability Assessment, giving people the confidence to move into work while reducing the burden of unnecessary assessments.

A new Universal Support programme will support disabled people and people with health conditions into sustained work, with those eligible able to opt in to receive up to 12 months of provision, with the government spending up to £4,000 per person and funding 50,000 places every year. This will help them to move quickly into suitable work and, with wraparound support, help them sustain that employment for the longer-term.

Pioneer areas are already mobilising services to provide greater support, and then the programme will ramp up over time, expanding to support thousands more people.

Older workers

A new digital Mid-life MOT check will be introduced to help older workers understand what their employment choices now mean for the longer-term – reaching 40,000 people a year.

They will also benefit from a boost to skills and better access to training through the Sector-based Work Academy Programme (SWAP), Train and Progress and the new ‘Returnerships’ programme.

Jobcentre support

We are increasing jobcentre support for people on Universal Credit who could work more, helping them progress towards more paid work.

This includes around 80,000 more people, whose partners claim Universal Credit, being given access to full jobcentre support for the first time. They will be assigned their own work coach who will provide tailored support to help them find work quicker.

All those working less than half of a full-time week will also get full jobcentre support to look for more work as the Administrative Earnings Threshold increases to the equivalent of around 18 hours from 15.

And more young people aged 16-24 on Universal Credit will be able see a work coach in a Youth Hub or benefit from the expertise of our Youth Employability Coaches.

The press release issued by the Department for Work and Pensions on 6 March 2023.

Employers are being encouraged to better support women experiencing the menopause as the Government today appointed England’s first ever Menopause Employment Champion.

• Helen Tomlinson appointed new Menopause Employment Champion and calls on more employers to develop menopause policies
• One in four women experiencing menopause are reported to have considered leaving their job due to symptoms
• She will drive awareness of issues surrounding menopause and work while promoting the benefits for businesses and the economy when women are supported to stay in work and progress

Helen Tomlinson, Head of Talent (UK & Ireland) at The Adecco Group, has been appointed to the independent role by the Department for Work and Pensions and will work closely with the Minister for Social Mobility, Youth and Progression Mims Davies.

As part of the voluntary role, Helen will focus on encouraging employers to develop menopause policies to create more supportive environments to help women experiencing menopause to stay and progress in work. She will carry out this work while continuing her employment at Adecco.

With 30 years’ experience in the recruitment and employability sector, Helen is ideally placed to take on the role having hosted a podcast on menopause and work which led to her working with Adecco to develop and introduce their menopause policy.

Launched in 2021, it has since been adapted for numerous external clients and includes training for managers and the creation of a menopause community of allies who advise women on how to support themselves to thrive in work whilst experiencing menopause.

Menopause Employment Champion, Helen Tomlinson said:

I have witnessed the transformational power that opening up conversations on the menopause can have in a workplace. By creating safe spaces by educating management and creating allies across workforces, women can be supported and empowered to manage their symptoms and thrive in work.

Less than a quarter of UK businesses currently have a menopause policy, but as I take on this role, I am determined that my generation of women in work will break the menopause taboo and have confidence that their health is valued.

I look forward to working with women and leaders across all sectors of work to address this gap and make a difference for current and future generations.

Department for Work and Pensions Minister, Mims Davies said:

Menopause is a major driver of too many women leaving the workforce early, often when they are at the peak of their skills and experience with so much more still to contribute.

We are committed to ensuring any stigma is addressed associated with menopause and its symptoms which can vary.

Working positively with employers is vital to ensure they can recruit and retain women experiencing menopause and stop women perhaps considering giving up their employment due to the impact.

I look forward to working closely with Helen, to achieve our goals of driving positive workplace change to help realise the full potential of women, businesses, and the economy by assisting women at any age and career stage to be properly supported and thrive in work.

Although not all women experience effects which prevent them from working, research suggests those with serious menopausal symptoms take an average of 32 weeks of leave from work, whilst one in four women report they have considered leaving their job due to experiencing the menopause.

The average age for a woman to reach the menopause is 51, and this matters especially as women over 50 represent the fastest growing segment of the workforce, with a third of the working age population now over 50.

Indeed, 1 in 100 women experiencing menopause impact before the age of 40 with peri-menopause symptoms often during their 40s and some experiencing it mid-30s.

As Menopause Employment Champion, Helen will focus on workplace support and raising awareness of menopause related issues. This could include advising employers on small but significant changes they could make to the workplace, such as offering those experiencing symptoms more regular breaks, a choice of uniform or creating cooler spaces in offices for those experiencing hot flushes.

Helen will also work closely with the Women’s Health Ambassador Dame Lesley Regan whose work on the menopause centres on healthcare provision.

Women’s Health Ambassador Dame Lesley Regan said:

Having spent my professional career caring for women across their life course, I am acutely aware of the need to support menopausal women in every aspect of their lives.

The Menopause Employment Champion will improve the support we offer our workforce – keeping women in the workplace and ensuring that every woman has the opportunity to live her life to the fullest potential.

This is a further positive step in the implementation of the Women’s Health Strategy which is tackling many practical problems that women experience when trying to access the services they need to optimise their health and wellbeing.

I look forward to working closely with Helen Tomlinson in her new role.

Ahead of today’s announcement, Mims Davies and Helen Tomlinson visited the Whitbread-owned Premier Inn at London County Hall, as the Group has made the menopause a key part of its diversity and inclusion policy.

Janet Tidmarsh, Head of Diversity and Inclusion for Whitbread said:

The menopause is a key part of our robust Diversity and Inclusion strategy, particularly because 67% of our front-line workers are women.

We’re so proud to be on our journey to being accredited as a Menopause Friendly Employer and have made our workplace guide to the menopause available in six different languages. This makes sure it is as accessible as possible in order to enable teams and managers to be supportive for people experiencing menopausal symptoms.

Our Gender Equality inclusion network, which is run by colleagues across the business, has been instrumental in driving awareness and change and work is only going from strength to strength as we continue to invest in this important topic.

This latest announcement comes ahead of International Women’s Day this week and builds on the government’s delivery of an ambitious plan to improve the health and wellbeing of women and girls, set out in the Women’s Health Strategy, in which menopause features as a priority area.

The press release issued by the Department for Work and Pensions on 14 February 2023.

The DWP has signed the Age-friendly Employer Pledge, a nationwide programme run by the Centre for Ageing Better to promote age inclusive working practices.

The Department for Work and Pensions recognises the immense benefit that a multigenerational workforce brings and will encourage other government departments and employers to sign up.

Permanent Secretary Peter Schofield CB said:

“I am very proud that DWP is leading the way as a workplace where all our staff can thrive – whether at the start of their career or experienced members of the workforce.

“Signing this pledge shows our continued determination to support our colleagues throughout their working life. From offering Mid-life MOTs, our menopause network and embedding flexible working, we are committed to making DWP an inclusive place to work for all ages.”

DWP age champion and Finance Director General Catherine Vaughan said:

“We know that older staff provide invaluable expertise, skills and experience to the important work the Department does.

“I’m pleased that by signing the Age-friendly Employer Pledge we’re continuing to show how much DWP values an age-diverse workforce. This will provide a tangible boost to help all our staff feel valued and supported whatever their age.”