The Department for Work and Pensions is a department of the Government of the United Kingdom, created on on June 8, 2001 from the merger of the Employment part of the Department for Education and Employment and the Department of Social Security. It is currently headed by the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, a Cabinet position.

Purpose

The department's stated purpose is "To promote opportunity and independence for all through modern, customer-focused services.".

Services

• JobCentre Plus, a service dedicated to helping people back into work and administering related benefits (Jobseekers' Allowance, Incapacity Benefit).
• The Pension Service , facilitating the state pension and pension credit systems and providing information on other related issues.
• The Child Support Agency, administering the child support scheme – maintenance payments for divorced couples and so on.
• The Disability and Carers Service , providing financial and practical support to disabled people and their carers.
• The Appeals Service , hearing appeals on matters relating to the department (benefit decisions).
• Debt Management, helping those who find themselves in debt to manage and recover themselves from such a situation.
• The Rent Service , assessing rents for Housing Benefit purposes and advising landlords on matters related to propertly letting.

The department also has responsibility for the Health and Safety Commission and the Health and Safety Executive.

Location and Staffing

The department's central administrative office is in Whitehall, London. There are a number of other regional offices, Jobcentres, Pension centres and others where members of the public can visit to find out information.

The department's annual "expenditure limit" (budget) figures are, at the time of the 2004 Spending Review: 2004-05: £8,164m, 05-06: £8,432m, 06-07: £8,212 and 07:08: £8,105.

The DWP employed (in 2003) 97,000 members of staff to discharge all of its functions. This figure will reduce by 30,000 by 2008, with a further 10,000 being moved to front-line services. This is part of the Government's pledge to reduce civil servant numbers by 100,000.

External link

• Department for Work and Pensions website