News from DWP
This page brings you DWP news and announcements. It also includes important changes to our websites and publications we have added. If you want to find out about something from a previous period, please go to the news archive.
New checks on adult entertainment job ads
27 December 2007
A crackdown on unscrupulous employers advertising jobs in the adult entertainment industry has been introduced by Jobcentre Plus, Secretary of State for Work and Pensions Peter Hain announced.
Employers found to be providing illegal services will have their access to Jobcentre Plus withdrawn and will be reported to the police.
Introducing the crackdown Peter Hain said: “While we have a duty to advertise all legal vacancies, we must ensure that Jobcentre Plus is not used as a gateway to illegal activities. Jobseekers have a right to expect the jobs advertised in our offices and on our website are above board.”
- Read the press release
Pathways to Work on track for national roll-out
20 December 2007
The final phase of the Pathways to Work programme which helps people off incapacity benefits and into work is announced today with the award of the second phase of private and voluntary sector contracts.
The organisations awarded contracts today are Carter & Carter Group plc, Instant Muscle Enterprise Limited, Reed in Partnership, Remploy, Royal British Legion Industries, Shaw Trust, TNG and Working Links. They will deliver Pathways in the remaining 16 Jobcentre Plus districts from April 2008, completing the national rollout across Great Britain.
- Read more about Pathways to Work
- Read the press notice
Hain announces financial help for people who lost pensions
17 December 2007
Up to 140,000 people who lost savings when their employer-sponsored pension schemes collapsed will benefit from a substantial package of help unveiled today by Work and Pensions Secretary Peter Hain.
The announcement was made alongside the publication of the Young Review - commissioned by the Government to look at ways of generating additional value from the failed pension schemes.
As well as increasing assistance for those affected to 90 percent of their accrued pension, the settlement will extend cover to 11,000 people in schemes wound up by qualifying solvent employers.
Benefit and pension payments over Christmas
14 December 2007
Over the Christmas holiday period some of our customers may be due to receive their payments on a national public holiday, when most banks are closed. To avoid a delay, those people will receive their payments before Christmas instead.
State Pension (when not combined with Pension Credit), Widow’s Benefit, Incapacity Benefit, Bereavement Benefit, Jobseeker’s Allowance
If you are due to receive your payment between Monday 24 December (Christmas Eve) and Wednesday 26 December (Boxing Day) we will make your payment on Friday 21 December.
Pension Credit on its own, Pension Credit combined with State Pension, Income Support, Disability Living Allowance, Attendance Allowance, Carer’s Allowance
If you are due to receive your payment on Tuesday 25 December (Christmas Day) or Wednesday 26 December (Boxing Day) we will make your payment on Monday 24 December (Christmas Eve).
If you are affected by this you will be able to collect your payments in the usual way (for example, from the Post Office or from your bank account) on these days.
All payments due on 1 January will be available on Monday 31 December.
Customers in Scotland who are due to receive payment on 2 January, we will make your payment available on Monday 31 December.
Moving benefit claimants from passive dependents to active job seekers
13 December 2007
A radical shift from passive to active benefits in the welfare system, to achieve full employment and help eradicate child poverty, was announced today by the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions Peter Hain.
In a major shake-up of the welfare state, Mr Hain confirmed that a raft of 50 changes to the current system of benefits and job-seeking support will be implemented over the next four years - with the bulk of the measures taking effect from next year and 2009.
The core of the reforms will see hundreds of thousands of people on benefit moving from being passive recipients of cash handouts to job seekers actively seeking and preparing for work.
- Read more in ‘Ready for work: full employment in our generation’.
Lowest claimant unemployment in more than 30 years
12 December 2007
New figures show unemployment continuing to fall, with 11,000 fewer people claiming unemployment benefit than this time last month, record numbers in work and the number of vacancies swelling to 680,000.
At the same time, more than 250 businesses have now committed to working with government to form Local Employment Partnerships (LEPs), helping those longer term benefit claimants move off welfare and into work.
Welcoming the figures, Employment Minister Caroline Flint said: ”It’s great to see the number claiming unemployment benefit fall for the 14th month in a row to reach its lowest level for over 30 years.”
More choice for pension investors
10 December 2007
Consultation begins today (10 December 2007) on draft regulations which will allow Self Invested Personal Pension Schemes (SIPPs) to hold protected rights.
Existing restrictions preventing SIPPs from holding protected rights are now considered unnecessary - particularly in the light of recent changes which mean SIPPs are regulated by the FSA.
Minister for Pensions Reform Mike O’Brien said: “This proposed change will give people more freedom to choose where they invest their pension savings.”
Progress on disability equality
6 December 2007
Important progress is being made towards the Government’s goal of equality for disabled people by 2025, the Office for Disability Issues (ODI) reveals in its second annual report to the Prime Minister.
The report sets out the range of work initiated by the ODI over the past year, including the launch of Equality 2025, a new advisory body to government.
Welcoming the report, Minister for Disabled People Anne McGuire said: “Early next year, the ODI will launch an independent living strategy aiming to give disabled people more choice and control over the services and support they need. And I have asked my officials to secure ratification of the UN Convention on Disability Rights by the end of 2008.”
Simpler benefit claims for older people - O'Brien
5 December 2007
Older people will soon be able to get more help with rent and Council Tax bills without having to send off any forms, the DWP announced today.
The Pension Service will deal with the entire application over the phone when people claim Pension Credit - and then send on the claim information to the local authority responsible for paying their Housing and Council Tax Benefits. Around 50,000 pensioners will gain from this measure by 2010.
Minister for Pensions Reform Mike O’Brien said: “This change will make the application process speedier and more automatic – helping thousands more older people with their housing and Council Tax costs - and making a difference to those on the lowest incomes.”
Millions more savers, billions more savings - Hain
5 December 2007
Millions more people would benefit from a good workplace pension as a result of reforms in the Pensions Bill 2007, Secretary of State for Work and Pensions Peter Hain said today. The Bill, introduced to Parliament today, would give all employees aged over 22, earning more than £5,000 a year, access to a good workplace pension with a minimum employer contribution for the first time. Mr Hain said: “Automatic enrolment and the introduction of a compulsory employer contribution would be a huge social change – resulting in millions more savers, and billions of pounds more being saved towards retirement.”
- Read the press release
- See Pensions Reform
Employers to help long term benefit claimants back into work
4 December 2007
Seven major employers signed up to a Local Employment Partnership today to help get long-term benefit claimants back into work, announced Peter Hain, Secretary of State for Work and Pensions.
The companies join 266 other organisations that have already committed to LEPs, working with Jobcentre Plus to support some of the hardest to help off benefits and into work.
Under the LEPs the Government gets disadvantaged people ready for work, through training and skills programmes while employers with vacancies give them a fair shot at a job.
Consultation to help more disabled people into work
3 December 2007
A consultation aimed at improving the specialist employment support available to disabled people has been launched by Minister for Disabled People Anne McGuire.
The consultation includes proposals to provide a more bespoke service to disabled people, ensuring they have the opportunity not just to work, but to progress in work to their full potential.
Anne McGuire said: “Over the last 10 years we have helped over 350,000 disabled people into employment. But we are determined to go further, which is why today we are setting out how we think we can improve our services and deliver a more flexible and personal employment service.”