What does the Department for Work and Pensions do?

The Department for Work and Pensions in the UK is the one mandated with pension policies, social welfare and alleviation of child poverty. It is the largest public service department of the UK government and it serves close to twenty million people. It helps the government on how to spend tax payers' money and also how to organise the public sector.

Organisation of the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP)

DWP is organised in a hierarchical manner, which is headed by the permanent secretary. The top management is assisted by an executive team, consisting of the Client Group Directors General, Corporate Function Directors General and Agency Chief Executives.

What does the DWP do?

The main objective of DWP is to help its ministers to implement the policies and mandates rested upon them. It is also responsible for implementing strategies put into place to ensure that: 1) Help is available for people who need assistance while looking for jobs. 2) Disabled people have access to their rights and entitlements. 3) Older people who are receiving pension, get it in time and trouble-free. 4) Other people who receive benefits from the government get their share of the benefits. 5) State pension is delivered to the targeted recipients.

Customer service delivery

DWP ensures the delivery of intended services through the use of three distinct organisations. The Pension Service
This is an agency of DWP which works out the amount of pension that an individual is entitled to. It ensures that pensioners receive their calculated pensions above. It also offers other advisory services on how one can access other pension-related entitlements and benefits after retirement. Disability and Carers Services
This agency of DWP makes available financial support for disabled customers. It helps such people to acquire their disability benefits, disability living allowances, vaccine damage compensation and carers’ allowance. Jobcentre Plus
This agency of DWP assists people who are of working age to get out of welfare into the working world. DWP does this by liaising with employers to provide jobs to people of working age who are under welfare.

Scheme of service delivery

DWP offices work closely with the numerous Non-Departmental Public Bodies to ensure that services reach the targeted groups of people. These bodies are the ones mandated with the full implementation of government proposals but are not a part of the government departments. The Non-Departmental Bodies are independent operating entities but are accountable to the government for the services which they provide to the public under the DWP.