Tag: Department for Work and Pensions

The press release issued by the Department for Work and Pensions on 27 February 2025.

New figures published today [Thursday 27 February] show a significant spike in Pension Credit applications following a DWP campaign to boost uptake, the highest since comparisons began in 2020.

• Record high number of Pension Credit applications with updated online claim form taking an average 16 minutes to complete
• DWP processing record number of claims a week, bringing down outstanding applications and giving the poorest pensioners vital support
• Support comes as the State Pension is set to rise by up to £1,900 for millions thanks to the government’s commitment to the Triple Lock

The department has now processed a record number of claims, reducing the number of applications yet to be cleared from its peak of 85,500 to just 33,700 by 23 February, which is in line with normal levels of Pension Credit claims waiting to be processed.

This has resulted in a record 117,800 applications being awarded – an increase of 45,800, or 64% – since the Chancellor’s announcement compared to the same period last year.

The department has also successfully boosted the numbers applying for Pension credit with a record 300,000 Pension Credit applications received this year alone. In response to the surge in applications, the DWP deployed 500 additional support staff to process them, resulting in a near doubling of cleared claims between 29 July 2024 and 23 February 2025.

The Pension Credit campaign and commitment to the Triple Lock deliver on this government’s Plan for Change, demonstrating our commitment to raise living standards for pensioners and provide security in retirement.

Building on the success of the campaign last autumn to boost Pension Credit applications, DWP is exploring further options to drive up claims by reaching the most isolated and poorest pensioners who are eligible for support, including:

• Writing to all pensioners who make a new claim for Housing Benefit and who appear to be entitled to Pension Credit – directly targeting this group to make a claim
• Starting new research on the triggers and motivations that encourage people to apply for Pension Credit and to understand what the barriers to claiming are – interviewing pensioners to hear their views and learn from their experiences
• Working across departments including HMRC to access databases with detail on household income, enabling us to identify pensioner households most likely to be eligible for Pension Credit and targeting them directly.

Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, Liz Kendall said:

I’m delighted we’ve been able to reach so many pensioners who need to be on Pension Credit, which can be a lifeline to so many on low incomes.

The record high number of claims awarded follows months of work to drive awareness of Pension Credit and then to process the huge spike in applications we received, and now thousands more pensioners are accessing the range of support on offer.

We won’t stop there. We are absolutely committed to ensuring every pensioner is supported in their retirement – whether through our ongoing Pension Credit campaign, extending the Household Support Fund and our commitment to the Triple Lock on the State Pension.

Pension Credit provides a lifeline in retirement to pensioners on low incomes, providing access to additional support, including housing costs, council tax and the Winter Fuel Payment.

The online claim form – updated by the Work and Pensions Secretary after listening to the views of pensioners– means it now takes just 16 minutes on average to apply for Pension Credit and be eligible for up to £4,300, with 90 percent of new customers applying using the simple online form, or over the phone.

The Government is forecast to spend £174.8 billion on benefits for pensioners in Great Britain in 2025-26. This includes spending on the State Pension which is forecast to be £146.6 billion in 2025-26. Crucially the government’s commitment to the Triple Lock for the entirety of this Parliament means that spending on people’s State Pensions is forecast to rise by over £31 billion.

Sarah Pennells, consumer finance specialist at Royal London said:

There was a lot of focus on December’s deadline to claim Pension Credit in order to qualify for the Winter Fuel Payment for 2024, but people can apply for Pension Credit any time, and it could be worth over £4,000 a year.

Our research shows that many people are missing out because they haven’t checked to see if they qualify.  Three in ten people over State Pension age who were on a low income hadn’t checked to see if they were entitled to Pension Credit, while one in ten pensioners who had been told they qualified for Pension Credit have yet to apply.

You can backdate your claim for Pension Credit by up to three months, and the sooner you claim, the sooner you could start receiving payments. Not only that, but, if you’re entitled to Pension Credit, you’ll be able to get extra help with costs such as rent and Council Tax, which could make a big difference.

Anyone who knows a low-income pensioner who may be isolated and needs support has been urged to remind or assist family members and friends to check their eligibility and apply today. Eligible claims can also be backdated by up to 3 months, ensuring pensioners do not miss out on the support they are entitled to.

To better support DWP customers, State Pension and Pension Credit teams have been working more closely together to support customers. When someone contacts the State Pension claim line, DWP staff identify those with potential eligibility for Pension Credit and take a claim there and then. This means customers don’t have to call both claim lines, getting new pensioners onto Pension Credit as soon as they are eligible.

The press release issued by the Department for Work and Pensions on 26 February 2025.

Over 100,000 people looking for work to benefit from tailored training next year, providing employers with work-ready recruits.

• Coastal towns including Blackpool and Scarborough to benefit as Minister for Employment urges more businesses to sign up to help fill vacancies.
• New research shows Sector-based Work Academy Programmes (SWAPs) can boost earnings by more than £1,400.

Thousands of employers and individuals looking for work will benefit from a new record-breaking number of workplace training schemes, the government will announce today [Wednesday 26 February]. This will mean surpassing the previous target of 80,000 and offering new opportunities in some of the country’s most deprived communities.

Minister for Employment, Alison McGovern will confirm the expansion of the Sector-Based Work Academy Programme (SWAPs) to provide 100,000 more places available over the next financial year, a boost of over a quarter from this year.

Sector-Based Work Academy Programmes (SWAPs) offer participants in England and Scotland who are receiving certain benefits the opportunity of training towards a job in a particular industry, alongside a work placement and a guaranteed interview that can kickstart a new career with over 63,000 people joining the SWAPs programme to help them find employment in the last year alone.

This boost for people looking for work through SWAPs is a crucial part of our plan to get Britain working to unlock growth, improve living standards and break down barriers to opportunity as part of our Plan for Change.

The expansion comes as new research shows that in the two years after finishing a SWAP, participants stay in their jobs on average up to three months longer, earn up to £1,400 more, and save the taxpayer over £350 per person compared with those who don’t take part in the programme.

The same research finds that, while all demographics benefit from taking part in a SWAP, the impact is greater for more disadvantaged groups, such as older customers and those with restrictive health issues.

The announcement builds on measures in the government’s Get Britain Working White Paper to overhaul jobcentres, tackle inactivity and improved outcomes for jobseekers. This will boost the nation’s skills and put more money into people’s pockets under the Plan for Change.

Minister for Employment, Alison McGovern MP said:

The evidence is clear – SWAPs boost your earnings and keep you in your job for longer. That is why we are promising to deliver more of them than ever, as we Get Britain Working as part of our Plan for Change.

And alongside our partnership with UKHospitality, more people in more areas of the country will be able to access the training they need to unlock the opportunities on their doorsteps.

Anyone in receipt of unemployment benefits is eligible to take part in a SWAP via their local Jobcentre and any business can work with DWP to develop one. This enables businesses to recruit from a wider range of candidates and provide the necessary skills training tailored to an open vacancy.

As part of this expansion, Minister for Employment Alison McGovern will announce that a hospitality SWAPs pilot, launched in partnership with UKHospitality, will be rolled out to 26 new areas in need of jobs and opportunity, including 13 coastal towns such as Scarborough and Blackpool.

This will ensure jobs are filled in sectors with high vacancies, such as the 88,000 roles available in the hospitality industry as the government drives up opportunity as part of our wider reforms to Get Britain Working.

Kate Nicholls, CEO of UKHospitality said:

UKHospitality’s Sector-Based Work Academy pilot proved to be a brilliant way to provide high quality, entry-level training for both new starters and those looking to get back into work.

I’m delighted that the government is rolling out our pilot to 26 new areas and using it as the model for its exciting plans to deliver at least 100,000 SWAP participants next year.

This announcement gives us the impetus to expand our work across the country, help more people find rewarding jobs in hospitality, boost growth, tackle economic inactivity and continue to develop our Hospitality Skills Passport.

Further information:

• SWAPs are designed to support unemployed benefit claimants on Universal Credit, Jobseeker’s Allowance, or Employment and Support Allowance, who are aged 16 years and over and who do not need extra support to address a lack of basic employability skills. Participants remain on benefits during their placement.
• The programme runs in England and Scotland. SWAPs are developed by Jobcentres in partnership with employers and training providers. These opportunities are offered in job sectors with high volumes of current local vacancies.
• Employers interested in taking the opportunity to start a SWAP for a role in their business can contact the Employers Service Line here – Jobcentre Plus help for recruiters: Recruitment advice and support – GOV.UK.
• The SWAP impact assessment, carried out by DWP, focused on UC customers who started a SWAP between April 2021 and March 2022 and compared their employment outcomes to individuals who were eligible to start a SWAP but did not start a placement.

The press release issued by the Department for Work and Pensions on 25 February 2025.

A controversial system that automatically approves landlord requests to deduct tenants’ benefits to pay rent arrears and ongoing rent payments is being re-examined, Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall announced today.

• Work and Pensions Secretary pledges to “right the wrongs” of controversial benefit deduction system.
• Follows decision by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) not to appeal court judgement which found one claimant’s landlord payments were unfair.
• Action is part of wider plans to make the benefits system fairer and protect people from falling into debt.

It comes amid concerns that the system – aimed at helping people avoid issues with their landlords such as eviction – may actually be pushing the poorest into debt.

Currently, a computer program automatically approves landlord requests to deduct up to a fifth of someone’s monthly Universal Credit payments for outstanding rent repayments without them being consulted by either their landlord or DWP.

The department will now look at this process and consider better ways of ensuring landlords get the rent they are owed in a fair and proportionate way while benefit claimants are protected from falling into debt.

It comes as part of wider efforts by the Work and Pensions Secretary to fix the broken welfare system to make it fairer and ensure it improves living standards which will unlock economic growth – a key commitment in the government’s Plan for Change.

Work and Pensions Secretary, Rt Hon Liz Kendall MP, said:

I am determined to right the wrongs that have persisted in the benefits system for too long. The automatic approval of landlords’ requests for tenants’ benefits to be deducted is one of these.

As well as urgently reviewing this system, I am bringing forward major changes to the health and disability benefits system so that it works for everyone, underpinned by the biggest employment reforms in a generation.

We will continue to listen to people’s concerns, and transform our benefits system to one of fairness, not punishment.

This decision comes in response to a high-profile legal challenge in January, which was won by Nathan Roberts whose benefits were deducted and automatically paid to his landlord to cover alleged rent arrears and ongoing rent payments – despite a dispute about repairs to the property.  The Work and Pensions Secretary has confirmed DWP will not appeal this decision.

Minister for Social Security and Disability, Rt Hon Sir Stephen Timms MP, said:

The benefits system needs urgent reform and we are taking action across the board to do this – whether that’s tackling the huge accumulation of debt by Carer’s Allowance recipients through no fault of their own, or this automatic deduction of benefits purely at the request of a landlord.

Combined with our efforts to Get Britain Working and our upcoming health and disability benefits reform, all of this will lead to better support for those who need it, and open doors for those who can work.

This comes ahead of a manifesto commitment to deliver a wider review of Universal Credit to ensure it is getting people into work, making work pay and tackling poverty.

In April, the Universal Credit Fair Repayment Rate will also come into force, reducing the cap on how much can be deducted from someone’s benefits from 25% to 15%. This means approximately 1.2 million households will keep more of their Universal Credit payment each month, with households expected to be better off by £420 a year on average.

The press release issued by the Department for Work and Pensions on 11 February 2025.

New scheme comes as part of the government’s drive to help people back into work and kickstart economic growth under its Plan for Change.

• New ‘Jobcentre on wheels’ service launched to drive up employment across Great Britain.
• Any member of the public – as well as DWP customers – can access job support through the mobile Jobcentres being tested in Bolton and parts of Wales.

New mobile Jobcentres are pulling up to football matches and retail parks to deliver vital employment support directly to local communities.

The vans have been visiting family hubs, retail car parks and mosques in regions with particularly high levels of unemployment and inactivity as the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) tests new and inclusive ways to help people back into work. This includes a van pitching up at Bolton Wanderers Football Club last weekend to provide job support to fans on match day.

In Bolton alone, nearly 1-in-3 people are currently inactive, with unemployment significantly higher than the national average. This van and others like it are performing a vital service to areas like Bolton, breaking down barriers to opportunity and bringing the expertise and support of the DWP straight into the heart of the communities that need it most.

The mobile Jobcentres are staffed by experienced Work Coaches who offer expert support with job searching, training opportunities and can provide information to those with health conditions or disabilities and accessing childcare costs.

As well as existing customers, the service is open and accessible to all members of the public and forms part of the government’s wider plans to tackle inactivity, support people into jobs and make everyone better off under its Plan for Change.

With the vans in Bolton, Flintshire, Denbighshire and Wrexham already proving a success, a van in Scotland will launch later this month and cover Moray and the Highlands.

The Minister for Employment, Alison McGovern, saw the Bolton mobile Jobcentre in action today (Monday 10 February) as members of the local community received advice outside the Great Lever Family Hub, a Start Well Children’s Centre.

Minister for Employment, Alison McGovern, said:

For too long, people have been denied the opportunity of securing a good job and getting on in their career. Under our major employment reforms, we want to see everyone, in every corner of the country, become better off.

This mobile Jobcentre is a perfect example of an inclusive and accessible DWP solution that ensures no one misses out on the job support they deserve. Getting more people back into work is a key part of our Plan for Change to deliver economic growth, create better opportunities and put more money into the pockets of working people.

Sam Ashton, a Work Coach based on the Bolton mobile Jobcentre, added:

The new Bolton mobile Jobcentre hit the road in January and has already pulled up in various locations across the town including at the Toughsheet Community Stadium. We have been supporting customers with a whole host of needs, whether that is with their job search, or accessing childcare costs.

We’re really looking forward to helping even more people in harder to reach areas and make it much easier for them to access our services.

The government is delivering on the biggest reforms to employment support in a generation as set out in the Get Britain Working White Paper. Key measures include overhauling Jobcentres, introducing a Youth Guarantee to ensure all people aged 18 to 21 are earning or learning and connecting local work, health and skills plans.

The press release issued by the Department for Work and Pensions on 6 February 2025.

Many sick and disabled people say they want to work to help boost their living standards – but aren’t given the right support, according to new data published on Time to Talk day today [6 February].

• New survey suggests 200k people claiming health and disability benefits are ready for work now if the right job or support were available.
• Comes as number of young people with a mental health condition who are economically inactive due to long-term sickness reaches over a quarter of a million (270,000).
• Overhaul of health and disability benefit system set to be unveiled in Spring to ensure it provides meaningful support to help long term sick back into work.

New research published by the Department for Work and Pensions shows that nearly half (44%) of people with a mental health condition expect to be able to work in future if their health improves.

This comes as the number of young people (aged 16 to 34) who are economically inactive due to long-term sickness and have a mental condition reaches 270,000. This number has been rising consistently over the past decade and has increased by 60,000 (26%) in the last year alone. The equivalent figure for all people of working-age (16 to 64) is 790,000 – an increase of 140,000 (22%) over the last year.

The Work Aspirations of Health and Disability Claimants survey also finds that a third (32%) of those claiming health and disability benefits believe they can work now or in future.  (5%) say that they would be ready now if the right job or support were available. This equates to around 200,000 individuals.

The survey also finds that those out of jobs overwhelmingly see work as a key part of their identity and a route to higher self-esteem, happiness and security.

In further evidence that the current system pushes people away from work, the survey revealed that 50% of people who are on health and disability benefits and are not currently in work said they were worried they would not get their benefits back if they tried paid employment and it did not work out.

It comes as the Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall visits Workbridge charity which offers support to people who are unable to work due to mental ill health, to hear how they’re supporting people with mental health conditions into work.

Responding to the stark survey results, the Work and Pensions Secretary has said the report demonstrates the need to reform the current welfare system, so that it offers better, meaningful support to give disabled people and people with long-term health conditions a real opportunity to find work.

The upcoming reforms will be a key part of the government’s Plan for Change to boost employment by breaking down barriers to opportunity – creating a welfare system that promotes tailored pathways into work and accommodates the complex nature of disabilities and health conditions – and consequently, improving people’s living standards.

Work and Pensions Secretary, Rt Hon Liz Kendall MP said:

Today’s report shows that the broken benefits system is letting down people with mental health conditions who want to work.

People claiming Health and Disability benefits have been classed by the system as “can’t work” and shut out of jobs and have been ignored – when they’ve been crying out for support.

That is a serious failure. It’s bad for people, bad for businesses, which miss out on considerable talent, and bad for the economy.

For young people in particular, being out of work can have a scarring effect that lasts a lifetime.

On Time to Talk day, it’s time to change how we support people with long-term health conditions, such as a mental health condition, so that they have a fair chance and choice to work.

On her visit to Workbridge, Kendall will speak to experts to hear their insights on how government and employers can better accommodate the fluctuating nature of people’s mental health – ensuring that people’s views and voices are at the heart of changes that affect them.

We know that being in work has a positive effect on people’s mental and physical health – providing people with confidence and independence, as well as financial benefits.

The UK remains the only G7 country that has higher levels of economic inactivity now than before the pandemic, with the benefits bill spiralling – largely driven by the increase in people claiming incapacity benefits for mental health conditions, who had not received the care and treatment they deserve.

The reforms to the health & disability benefit system due to be unveiled in a Green Paper in Spring will consider these issues and how the government can tackle these barriers to employment, and the government will work closely alongside charities, organisations and disabled people to ensure their voices help shape any proposals for reform.

The Green Paper will set key ambitions for creating a system that is fairer on disabled people – offering support into work which takes into consideration the realities of their health condition and life circumstances, and fairness for the taxpayer by bringing down the benefits bill.

The reforms are expected to build on the Get Britain Working White Paper, which set out the first steps to achieving the government’s target 80% employment rate, driving up growth and driving down poverty in every corner of our country.

Successful steps have already been taken to offer work and life-changing support, with a record number of people with mental health conditions receiving employment advice through the NHS Talking Therapies programme.

Alongside this support, the Government has settled record funding for the NHS – so that all people can get the care they need – and have pledged:

• 8,500 more mental health staff
• Mental health support teams in every school
• Open-access mental health hubs in every community

The press release issued by the Department for Work and Pensions on 18 December 2024.

People with back, joint, and muscle issues living in areas with the worst waiting lists for musculoskeletal (MSK) conditions are set to be treated quicker and supported back into employment as the Government gets Britain working.

• £3.5million funding boost to be shared by 17 NHS areas to trial innovative ways to treat musculoskeletal conditions (MSK)
• 646,000 people off work with MSK conditions – around 1 in 4 of the record 2.8 million people on long-term sickness benefits
• Funding is part of the Government’s Plan for Change to deliver growth, put more money in people’s pockets, and get the NHS back on its feet

As part of the Government’s drive to tackle economic inactivity – where someone is out of work and not looking for work – 17 Integrated Care Boards (ICBs) across England will share part of a £3.5million package to improve MSK services.

The funding will see each area receive up to £300,000 to treat one of the main drivers of economic inactivity, and is part of the Government’s Plan for Change which will put more money into people’s pockets and get the NHS back on its feet.

The MSK Community Delivery Programme will be administered through NHS England’s Getting it Right First Time (GIRFT) programme, and will give ICBs the resources and leadership to develop more efficient ways of getting MSK patients treated, off waiting lists and back onto the path of employment.

Minister for Employment, Alison McGovern MP, said:

For too long people locked out of work with health issues have been forgotten about and denied the support they need to get well and get working.

It’s stifling our economy and preventing those eager to progress in life from unleashing their full potential.

This multi-million-pound funding boost means musculoskeletal patients across the country will get the help they need, as we give clinical leaders the resources to innovate, get people off waiting lists and get Britain working again.

There are 2.8million people economically inactive due to long-term health and MSK is the second largest reason given, behind mental health. Around 646,000 people – around 1 in 4 (23%) – said MSK was their primary condition.

Waiting lists for MSK community services are the highest of all community waits in England, at 348,799 people in September 2024, with approximately 23.4 million working days in the UK being lost due to MSK conditions in 2022 alone.

Minister for Public Health and Prevention, Andrew Gwynne, said:

With prevention, early detection and treatment, we know that the 17 million people with musculoskeletal issues in England could better manage their conditions, improving their quality of life and enabling them to rejoin the workforce.

Through the Plan for Change, the government is taking decisive action to drive down waiting lists, improve treatment options and boost the economy.

Several of the 17 ICB locations spearheading the delivery of this programme also host NHS England’s Further Faster 20 programme and the Government’s recently announced WorkWell programme – meaning people with MSK conditions will benefit from an amalgamated approach of reduced waiting lists combined with intensive and bespoke employment support.

Professor Tim Briggs, NHS England’s National Director of Clinical Improvement and Elective Recovery and Chair of the Getting it Right First Time programme, said:

The NHS has a proven record of spearheading improvements through the Getting it Right First Time Programme and this initiative could make a real difference to people with MSK conditions– providing them with the care they need and helping them to return to work.

Local health systems will be able to assess their current services and share examples of best practice to roll out innovative ways of working, as well as improving data on how services are performing.

Deborah Alsina MBE, Chief Executive of Versus Arthritis, said:

With over 20 million people living with musculoskeletal conditions, including 10 million with arthritis, Versus Arthritis understands the devastating impact these conditions can have on working lives.

Arthritis can cause debilitating pain, joint stiffness and prevent people doing everyday tasks, with work sometimes made to feel an impossible challenge.

MSK Community Services can be an invaluable resource for people with arthritis, and we are delighted to see the launch of this programme in dedicated sites across England, and in the future across the whole country.

The Government announced the launch of the Get Britain Working White Paper in November as part of the biggest reforms to employment support for a generation, bringing together skills and health to get more people into work and get on in work.

Additional Information:

1. The Get Britain Working White Paper was published on Tuesday 26 November: Get Britain Working White Paper – GOV.UK
2. The locations of the 17 ICBs taking part in the programme which also have some of the longest MSK 18 week waits are:

• Birmingham and Solihull ICB
• Bristol, North Somerset & South Gloucestershire ICB
• Cambridgeshire and Peterborough ICB
• Cheshire (NHS Cheshire and Merseyside ICB) ICB
• Cornwall ICB
• Devon ICB
• Dorset ICB
• Greater Manchester ICB – Manchester / Oldham
• Hampshire and Isle of Wight
• Leicester Leicestershire & Rutland ICB
• Norfolk and Waveney ICB
• North Central London ICB
• North East and North Cumbria ICB
• North East London ICB
• Northamptonshire ICB
• Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin ICB
• Sussex ICB

The press release issued by the Department for Work and Pensions on 28 November 2024.

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has released new statistics today [Thursday 28 November] on the amount of Pension Credit applications, as well as applications processed and those claims that were successful.

Tens of thousands more pensioners now in receipt of Pension Credit

• Since July, an extra 42,500 pensioners are now in receipt of Pension Credit and will receive the Winter Fuel Payment
• Average number of Pension Credit claims a week have more than doubled since July
• Comes as government continues to urge pensioners to check their eligibility and apply for pension credit

New figures released today show an extra 42,500 households are now in receipt of Pension Credit, and therefore the Winter Fuel Payment, since the government launched its pension credit awareness campaign.

The average weekly number of Pension Credit applications have more than doubled since the Chancellor’s announcement, with 150,000 more Pension Credit applications since July.

It comes as the Department continues to urge pensioners to check their eligibility and apply for pension credit, with DWP deploying 500 extra staff to process applications as quickly as possible.

It only takes 16 minutes on average to apply, and anyone who makes a successful claim for Pension Credit before 21 December will receive both backdated Pension Credit and a Winter Fuel Payment.

Minister for Pensions Emma Reynolds MP said:

We’re pleased to see more pensioners are now receiving Pension Credit and our staff are processing claims as quickly as possible.

With the 21 December approaching, my message is clear: check if you are eligible for Pension Credit and if you are then apply, as it unlocks a range of benefits including the Winter Fuel Payment.

Pension Credit acts as gateway benefit, so not only is it worth £3,900 per year on average, it means that people who are eligible may also qualify for help with housing costs such as rent and council tax as well as energy bills.

The government will continue to stand behind vulnerable households this winter, including through the £150 Warm Home Discount for low-income households from October and by extending the Household Support Fund with £1 billion to ensure local authorities can support vulnerable people and families.

Millions of pensioners are also set to benefit from an increase of up to £470 to the state pension in April and up to £1,900 more over the next five years.

The press release issued by the Department for Work and Pensions on 26 November 2024.

Unveiling the biggest reforms to employment support for a generation, Work and Pensions Secretary, Liz Kendall has today (26 November) published the Get Britain Working White Paper, marking the Government’s first major intervention to achieve an ambitious 80 per cent employment rate.

• White Paper on biggest reforms to employment support for a generation published today, backed by £240 million investment
• Jobcentres transformed across Great Britain and every young person to have access to an apprenticeship, quality training and education opportunities
• Mental health support to be expanded and extra capacity deployed to reduce waiting lists in areas with highest levels of inactivity
• Measures announced in White Paper will fuel growth as Government rebuilds Britain in a decade of national renewal

It comes as stark figures show almost one and a half million people are unemployed, over nine million people are inactive, a record 2.8 million people are out of work due to long-term sickness. Young people have also been left behind with one in eight young people not in education, employment or training, and nine million adults lack the essential skills they need to get on in work.

The UK is also the only major economy that has seen its employment rate fall over the last five years, which has been largely driven by a significant rise in the number of people out of work due to long-term ill health with an outdated employment support system which is ill equipped to respond to this growing challenge.

This White Paper sets out a fundamentally different approach to the employment support system – backed by £240 million of investment – to target and tackle the root causes of unemployment and inactivity, and better join up health skills and employment support based on the unique needs of local communities.

That includes tackling ill health as the biggest driver of inactivity by fixing the NHS. This includes deploying extra staff to cut waiting lists in areas of high inactivity, expanding access to mental health support, as well as a greater focus on prevention to stop people becoming ill in the first place.

The outdated Jobcentre system will also be transformed into a new national jobs and careers service, focused on people’s skills and careers instead of just monitoring and managing benefit claims. Mayors and councils will be empowered to join up local work, health and skills support in ways that meet the specific needs of their local areas.

The government is also delivering a new Youth Guarantee so every young person has access to education or training to help them find a job and transforming the Apprenticeship Levy in England into a more flexible Growth and Skills Levy backed by £40 million to expand opportunities for young people to develop skills and get into work.

An independent review will also be launched into how employers can be better supported to employ people with disabilities health conditions, and to keep them in the workplace, ensuring that more people can benefit from a sense of dignity, purpose and financial independence.

Building on these reforms, the government will bring forward measures to overhaul the health and disability benefits system so it better supports people to enter and remain in work and to tackle the spiralling benefits bill. A consultation will be published in Spring as part of a commitment to put the views and voices of disabled people at the heart of any policy changes that directly affect them.

The driving purpose behind this new approach is to enable everyone to have the opportunity of secure, rewarding and fulfilling work. Today’s White Paper delivers the fundamental reforms needed to fix the foundations, break down barriers to opportunity particularly for young people and improve living standards.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer said:

From the broken NHS, flatlining economy, and the millions of people left unemployed and trapped in an inactivity spiral – this government inherited a country that simply isn’t working. But today we’ve set out a plan to fix this. A plan that tackles the biggest drivers of unemployment and inactivity and gives young people their future back through real, meaningful change instead of empty rhetoric and sticking plaster politics.

We’re overhauling jobcentres to make them fit for the modern age. We’re giving young people the skills and opportunities they need to prepare them for the jobs of the future. We’re fixing the NHS so people get the treatment and mental health support they desperately need to be able to get back to work. We’re working with businesses and employers to better support people with disabilities and health conditions to stay and progress in work, and it doesn’t stop there.

Our reforms put an end to the culture of blaming and shaming people who for too long haven’t been getting the support they need to get back to work. Helping people into decent, well-paid jobs and giving our children and young people the best start in life – that’s our plan to put more money in people’s pockets, unlock growth and make people better off.

The Secretary of State, Liz Kendall MP said:

To get Britain growing, we need to get Britain working again. Our reforms will break down barriers to opportunity, help people to get into work and on at work, allow local leaders to boost jobs and growth, and give our children and young people the best opportunities to get on in life.

The Get Britain Working White Paper shows that this Government stands unashamedly for work. We will make sure everyone, regardless of their background, age, ethnicity, health, disability or postcode can benefit from the dignity and purpose work can bring.

We can build a healthier, wealthier nation – driving up employment and opportunity, skills and productivity – while driving down the benefit bill.

The employment reforms will be underlined by the principle that people who can work, will be expected to work with clear consequences if they don’t properly engage with the government’s employment support offer. The fundamental principles of reform set out in the white paper include:

Fixing the NHS and Tackling economic inactivity caused by ill health

A quarter of all people aged 16-64 have a long-term health condition that limits their day-to-day activities with disabled people nearly three times more likely (than non-disabled people) to be economically inactive. Given the strong evidence on the health benefits of good work, extra capacity will be deployed to reduce waiting lists in 20 NHS Trusts across England with the highest levels of economic inactivity.

The government is providing an additional £22.6 billion of resource spending in 2025-26 for the Department of Health and Social Care. This will support the NHS in England to deliver an additional 40,000 elective appointments a week and make progress towards the commitment that patients should expect to wait no longer than 18 weeks from referral to consultant-led treatment.

The Government will deliver an additional 8,500 new mental health staff and also expand access to Individual Placement and Support (IPS) for severe mental illness, reaching 140,000 more people by 2028/29. On top of this, the Government will take a prevention first approach through an expansion of Talking Therapies, a landmark Tobacco and Vapes Bill and a range of steps to tackle obesity.

The White Paper sets out how the Government will invest £125 million in eight areas across England and Wales, to mobilise local work, health and skills support – so everyone who wants to work can get the joined-up support they need. This includes funding in three of the trailblazer areas for NHS accelerators to stop people falling out of work completely due to ill health. The three areas will be the North East, South Yorkshire and West Yorkshire.

These eight trailblazers will be at the forefront of designing how locally joined-up support will work in practice across England and Wales.

Creating a new National Jobs and Careers Service to help people into work

Jobcentres across Great Britain will be overhauled and in England will be brought together with the National Careers Service. This will be kickstarted by £55million of investment, to help people get into work, stay in work, build skills and progress in their career.

A radically improved digital offer will be trialled to bring Jobcentres into the 21st century, with the DWP using the latest technologies and AI to provide up-to date information on jobs, skills and other support and to free up Work Coach time.

Staff at Jobcentres will have more flexibility to offer a more personalised service to jobseekers – moving away from the ‘tick box’ culture. New coaching academies will also be set up to upskill jobcentre staff to better support people into work.

Backed by £55 million, testing and digital design will be carried out into next year to understand how best to bring DWP services online and make them easier to access to deliver tailored support, including CV advice and job adverts. This builds on work already underway to give work coaches AI tools so they can find the right information for their customers faster.

Delivering a Youth Guarantee to support young people into work

Every 18-to-21-year old in England will have access to an apprenticeship, quality training and education opportunities or help to find a job under a new ‘Youth Guarantee’.

The White Paper unveils new partnerships with some of Britain’s most iconic cultural and sporting organisations, including the Premier League, Channel 4 and the Royal Shakespeare Company, who will offer work or learning opportunities to inspire and upskill the next generation.

Eight youth “trailblazer” areas will be set up across the country, including in Liverpool City Region , Tees Valley and the East Midlands with £45 million funding to identify those most at risk of falling out of education or employment and match them to opportunities for education, training or work.

To further expand opportunities for young people through the Youth Guarantee, the Government will transform the Apprenticeship Levy in England into a more flexible Growth and Skills Levy by investing £40 million. This will help to deliver new foundation and shorter apprenticeships in key sectors.

These new opportunities will be the responsibility of young people to take them up. In return for these new opportunities, young people will be expected to engage with training or work that’s on offer so no young person is left behind.

An advisory panel will also be set up to put young people at the heart of decision making. There will also be a disability panel set up to ensure the voices of disabled people are at the core of reforms.

This change will deliver greater flexibility for employers and learners, aligned to the Governments Industrial Strategy, while rebalancing the offer so that more apprenticeships are focused on young people.

Empowering local mayors to shape an effective work, health and skills offer for local people

Up to £15 million will be made available to areas across England not getting a trailblazer so they can develop their own Get Britain Working Plan focused on reducing economic inactivity. Plans will be developed by mayoral authorities where they exist – aligned with their Local Growth Plans – and elsewhere by Local Authorities.

By giving local areas the power and money to design their own Get Britain Working plans, we will deliver real employment opportunities for people who know their communities best. Up to £15 million will be made available to support local areas across England to develop their own plans and to support the trailblazers.

The government will also provide £115 million in funding next year to enable local areas across England and Wales to deliver a new supported employment programme called Connect to Work scheme.

Connect to Work provides voluntary employment offers to people with disabilities, health conditions or complex barriers to work and will support up to 100,000 people a year at full roll out as the first tranche of money from a new Get Britain Working Fund.

Launching an independent review into the role of UK employers in promoting health and inclusive workplaces

Poor workforce health imposes large costs on employers, especially from sickness absence and turnover, while also making it harder for them to find the talent they need to grow and thrive.  There is also compelling evidence about the value of helping people with a health condition or disability to stay in work, including to prevent them becoming economically inactive.

In response, the review will consider what more can be done to enable employers to increase the recruitment and retention of disabled people and those with a health condition and undertake early intervention for sickness absence and increase returns to work.

The review will run until next summer and involve wide-ranging engagement with employers, employees, trade unions, health experts, and disabled people and those with health conditions.

It will complement the Government’s Employment Right’s Bill, which will tackle job insecurity and expand flexible working.

Adele Ablett, who has worked at the DWP for 38 years and now manages five Jobcentres and 71 Work Coaches across Cheshire said:

It’s a real privilege to support people at vulnerable times in their lives and help them find the right pathway for them – whether that be through training or work. With more customers coming through our doors with complex health needs and mental health challenges, the demand on our service has never been greater.

The changes in the Get Britain Working White Paper will help us to amplify this support to reach more people and change more lives. It will give us more flexibility to build strong relationships with employers and organisations, so everyone sees us the way I do – as the go-to place for businesses to recruit and as a public service passionate about people and possibilities.

Clare Sumner, Premier League Chief Policy and Social Impact Officer said:

Building on our long-term investment into communities, the Premier League will contribute to the Youth Guarantee by using the power of football to engage young people who need the greatest support.

Our programmes delivered by football clubs across the country play a vital role in providing inspiring opportunities and pathways to success to help the next generation fulfil their potential. We will be working with the Government to continue this important work and help extend the reach of the Youth Guarantee initiative into communities and to those who need it most.

Secretary of State Lisa Nandy said:

We’re committed to a bold new approach to shaping policy that values the aspirations and experiences of young people to give them every chance of success in life.

The introduction of a Youth Guarantee, along with the co-production of a new National Youth Strategy, will help put young people back in charge of their own destiny and unlock opportunities for all young people, regardless of their postcode.

Darren Burns, Director of Diversity & Inclusion of Timpson Group said:

At Timpson we support the plan to get more people back into work, by helping them to find exciting and rewarding careers.

Many of our existing colleagues have come to us through the Jobcentre and this is still the case today. We regularly work in close partnership with local job centres to find amazing colleagues for our business and the support we receive is invaluable.

Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham said:

It’s great to see the Government get serious about transforming the old tick-box approach to job support into one that tackles the root causes of unemployment and poor health and sets people up to succeed.

The best way to do that is to join up services in the places where people live, and offer them the kind of positive, personalised support that grows confidence and looks at complex issues in the round.

The Secretary of State has seen for herself the difference that our Live Well approach is already making in Greater Manchester, where our brilliant community partners are building trust and helping break down barriers to work and wellbeing.

Through our new trailblazer, and with Government backing, we can build on these strong foundations and help more people find the sense of purpose that comes with good work. That is how we will help everyone to achieve their potential, ease pressure on our public services, and deliver growth in our city-region and across the country.

Mayor of South Yorkshire Oliver Coppard said:

In South Yorkshire, work, health and skills barriers have prevented people here making the most of their talents for far too long.  That’s why we’re determined to address those barriers through our pioneering Pathways to Work Commission.  The Commission’s report set out recommendations that could unlock the full potential of our communities and I’m really pleased that the Government has backed our pioneering approach.

In South Yorkshire we have led the way in highlighting the importance of bringing work, health and skills together as we support people back into employment.  We now have a Government that understands the importance of devolution and joined-up working, and together we are undertaking the biggest reforms to how we support people into work for a generation.

Our trailblazer will help us to create a bigger and better economy in South Yorkshire that helps people to stay near and go far.

Mayor of the Liverpool City Region Steve Rotheram said:

Devolution is already making a huge difference to people’s lives in the Liverpool City Region. We’ve helped thousands of people into work, created opportunities for young people through apprenticeships, and supported adults to gain the skills they need to thrive. This shows what can be achieved when decisions are made closer to the people they affect.

That’s why I welcome the government’s plans to give Mayors more of the tools and resources we need to break down the barriers keeping people out of work. Whether it’s tackling skills shortages, improving childcare, or supporting people with health conditions, this is a chance to make a real difference.

I look forward to working with the government to make these bold ambitions a reality for the people in our communities.

Stephen Evans, Chief Executive of Learning and Work Institute said:

The Government’s ambition for an 80% employment rate is the right one and our research shows it will benefit people, employers and the economy. More than three million people who are out of work want a job, but too often don’t get the right support.

This White Paper starts us on the path to change that. I’m particularly pleased to see the Youth Guarantee, which we have long called for. There can be few bigger priorities than ensuring young people get the education and careers they need.

To tackle the shockingly wide disability employment rate gap and opportunity gaps across the country, we need high-quality, joined-up, locally delivered work, skills and health support. It will take time, but the prize is great.

The White Paper is part of wider Government action to spread opportunity and fix the foundations of our economy. This includes launching Skills England to create a shared national plan to boost the nation’s skills, creating more good jobs through our modern Industrial Strategy, and strengthening employment rights through our Plan to Make Work Pay.

Secretary of State for Scotland Ian Murray said:

Breaking down barriers to opportunity is the key to our plan to Get Britain Working. Our radical overhaul of Jobcentres will bring improvements to every part of the UK, creating a service more fit for modern life, helping people into decent, well-paid jobs.

A joined-up approach to tackling inactivity is crucial, and we want to work with the Scottish Government to ensure all services are considered – including better healthcare, improved childcare, and access to meaningful skills training.

Our Employment Rights Bill has brought some of the biggest improvements for workers in a generation with an end to zero-hours contracts and increased job security. And our Tobacco and Vapes Bill, also introduced today, will curb many of the health issues affecting work connected with smoking. Together we can Get Britain Working and on the path to prosperity and growth.

The press release issued by the Department for Work and Pensions on 8 October 2024.

Millions of workers stand to benefit from greater financial security in later life following a consultation launched today.

• Government unveils plans to modernise pensions and give workers greater security in retirement
• Consultation launched to extend Collective Defined Contribution (CDC) pension provision, helping support the Government’s growth mission
• Regulations form part of wider plans for future of workplace pensions to help increase returns for more people and ensuring greater value for money

Following the Chancellor’s recent visit to Canada to see how retirement schemes successfully pool contributions from employees into larger funds that are managed by investors, the UK government is fast-tracking plans to modernise its own pensions system by broadening access to Collective Defined Contribution schemes.

Collective Defined Contribution (CDC) pension schemes, first introduced to the UK in 2022, have the potential to deliver reliable returns for savers, while ensuring more predictable costs for employers.

Today, industry experts, savers and pension providers can have their say on new proposals to extend the current offering of CDC pension schemes to more employers, delivering better value for money for future pensioners and unlocking huge investment potential.

In Canada, the funds from pooled pension contributions are invested into a wider range of assets like infrastructure, startups and private equity – which can benefit the wider economy and boost returns.

Extending CDCs could similarly allow for greater return on investment for those saving into the schemes and allow for larger investment in the UK – supporting the Government’s growth mission to boost the economy.

Minister for Pensions, Emma Reynolds, said:

We are seizing this exciting opportunity to modernise our pensions market to deliver better outcomes for millions of workers.

People work hard to put money aside for their pension with every pay cheque. This significant innovation will offer a more predictable income and greater finance security for future pensioners.

Currently only single or connected employers can set up CDC schemes, with the first scheme launched by the Royal Mail yesterday.

Building on the significant appetite from industry for extending CDC provision, the Government is now seeking to broaden access further by allowing unconnected multiple employer schemes – making this pension model more accessible to a wider range of businesses and employees.

This work builds on plans to review our pensions landscape as well as our new Pension Schemes Bill which could boost pension pots – with further consolidation and broader investment strategies to possibly deliver higher returns for pensioners.

The consultation seeks views from employers, industry experts, pension providers and the public on draft regulations and their potential impact.

The consultation will run for six weeks – opening today and running until 19 November 2024.

Supportive statements:

John Ball, Chief Executive of the Church of England Pensions Board said:

We welcome the publication today of draft regulations that support the creation of multi-employer CDC pension schemes. We look forward to scrutinising the detail, and to seeing how in due course, such an arrangement might transform retirement plans for those who work for the Church.

Andy O’Regan, Client & Strategic Partnerships Director at TPT Retirement Solutions, said:

The introduction of multi-employer whole-of-life CDC scheme regulations will be a landmark moment for UK pensions. Previously, CDC schemes had only been viable for the largest employers. These new rules will make it possible for all employers to provide their staff with a CDC pension scheme. We’ve already been speaking to around 200 employers who have expressed interest in how a CDC scheme could be delivered for their employees.

Multi-employer CDC schemes have the potential to bring a host of advantages to pension savers when compared to traditional DC schemes. CDC schemes pool longevity and investment risk. This means that, compared to DC, they are expected to achieve higher benefits as well as provide members with an income for life. An added benefit is the removal of some of the complex financial decisions pension savers are required to make under DC. CDC schemes may also be more likely to invest in productive assets which could encourage economic growth and generate higher long-term returns for scheme members.

This consultation will open the door to CDC for all employers regardless of size, with the first multi-employer CDC scheme potentially launching within a couple of years. We believe many employers, pension savers, and the wider economy could benefit from the introduction of these schemes. We look forward to responding to this consultation in due course.