Department for Work and Pensions

The main function of the Department for Work and Pensions is to work out the amount of state pension and pension credit each of us is entitled to. This function is performed by The Pension Service, who also make the payments.

It delivers the policy decided on by the government and is behind the introduction of both NEST and the new flat-rate pension, both of which are expected to be implemented by 2015 or 2016.

The DWP's programmes are delivered by The Pension Service. The Pension Service is part of the Pensions, Disabilities and Carers Service (PDCS).

	Unemployment down to 2.5 million as record numbers in work The resilience of the UK labour market is underlined today as unemployment fell to 2.5 million and the highest number of workers are employed since records began in 1971.
	IDS: Benefit reforms ensure "it always pays to be in work" Iain Duncan Smith wants to break the link between benefit increases and inflation and says the Universal Credit is being introduced to ensure “it always pays to be in work.”
	More women work beyond 60 due to changes to state pension age A new study by the Institute of Fiscal Studies (IFS) reveals that more women are working beyond the age of 60 because of changes to the state pension age.
	Osborne calls on G20 to work together to combat tax avoidance The G20 group of countries has pledged to work together to ensure that global companies pay the right levels of tax to the countries they have earned the profits in.
	Closing pensions loophole could cost as much as it saves The government is to stop people living abroad who are married to UK citizens from claiming a state pension in a move that could affect 220,000 people.