Department for Work and Pensions
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) is a ministerial department of the Government of the United Kingdom. It is 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. It is the second largest governmental department in terms of employees, and the largest in terms of expenditure (£187bn).
DWP buildings at Quarry Hill, Leeds
Image: Official portrait of Rt Hon Mel Stride MP crop 2
Image: Official portrait of Jo Churchill MP crop 2
Image: Mims Davies
Universal Credit is a United Kingdom social security payment. It is means-tested and is replacing and combining six benefits, for working-age households with a low income: income-related Employment and Support Allowance, income-based Jobseeker's Allowance, and Income Support; Child Tax Credit and Working Tax Credit; and Housing Benefit. An award of UC is made up of different elements, which become payable to the claimant if relevant criteria apply: a standard allowance for singles or couples, child elements and disabled child elements for children in the household, housing cost element, childcare costs element, as well as elements for being a carer or having an illness or disability and therefore having limited capability to work.
Sir Iain Duncan Smith MP, Work and Pensions Secretary between 2010 and 2016 and one of the main architects of the Universal Credit system
Effect of 2021 changes for a one child lone parent compared to the previous £20/week temporary uplift