Department for Work and Pensions (DWP)

Department for Work and Pensions (DWP)

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) is a department of His Majesty’s Government responsible for welfare, pensions and child maintenance policy. As the UK’s biggest public service department it administers the State Pension and a range of working age, disability and ill health benefits to around 20 million claimants and customers.

The department has four operational organisations: Jobcentre Plus administers working age benefits such as Jobseeker’s Allowance, and decides which claimants receive Employment and Support Allowance; the Pension Service which pays the Basic State Pension and Pension Credit and provides information on related issues; Disability and Carers Service which provides financial support to disabled people and their carers; and the Child Maintenance Group which provides the statutory Child Support Schemes, operating as the Child Support Agency and the Child Maintenance Service. Three non-departmental bodies are accountable to DWP; the Health and Safety Executive, The Pensions Regulator and the Money and Pensions service.