Roundup of recent DWP announcements
WorkWell prospectus publication
The Department of Health and Social Care and the Department for Work and Pensions have published the WorkWell prospectus setting out further information and details about the Expression of Interest process inviting Integrated Care Boards, alongside local authorities, to bid for WorkWell funding.
WorkWell, announced at Spring Budget 2023, aims to better integrate local employment and health support for disabled people and people with health conditions. It will be delivered as a pilot service in approximately 15 areas in England, with service delivery expected to begin from Autumn 2024.
If you have any questions about the prospectus or grant funding process, please contact DHSC.WorkWell@dwp.gov.uk.
Introducing Conversational Platform technology into Universal Credit (UC) telephony
On 30 November DWP introduced a new technology called Conversational Platform onto the Department’s telephony channels, starting with Universal Credit. This will transform the customer journey by replacing traditional Interactive Voice Response options (press 1 for X, 2 for Y etc.) with a voice-led interactive solution.
Conversational Platform will enable customers to speak naturally, securing better insight into why they are calling, and how best to respond to their enquiry. The Platform will provide self-serve instructions to simple enquiries, saving customers time spent waiting in a call queue and reducing call demand to agents. Where a further conversation with someone is required, Conversational Platform will help route the call to the right person first time.
For more information see the factsheet
Carer Support Payment – new claims pilot launch in Scotland
Carer Support Payment (CSP) is the Scottish Government’s replacement for Carer’s Allowance for eligible customers living in Scotland.
CSP for new claims was introduced in the following pilot areas in Scotland from 20 November 2023.
- Dundee City
- Perth & Kinross
- Western Isles
Carer Support Payment will be available nationally across the whole of Scotland by autumn 2024.
Customers living in Scotland currently getting Carer’s Allowance do not need to take any action. They will have their claims transferred to Carer Support Payment between 2024 and 2025.
Further information and how to claim
Move to Universal Credit update
The expansion of Move to Universal Credit (UC) continues for tax credits only customers, and we are now able to share the remaining expansion locations. This will complete the ‘tax credits only’ expansion.
In December we expand into Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, and Oxfordshire; this will be followed by Leicestershire & Northamptonshire, Northumberland Tyne & Wear and the remaining Devon & Cornwall jobcentres in January 2024.
In February, Move to UC expands into Surrey and Sussex, South Yorkshire, Mercia, Northern Scotland, West London, North and Mid Wales, Birmingham and Solihull, Merseyside, Northeast Scotland, Bedfordshire, and Hertfordshire. And finally, the Black Country follows in March 2024, at which point Move to UC will be operating in all jobcentre districts across Great Britain.
The Department’s plans for April 2024 onwards and moving households on other benefit combinations (excluding Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) only and ESA with Housing Benefit) will be communicated in due course.
Thirty days have been automatically added to make a claim to UC for any claimant with a migration notice that has a deadline date falling between 11 December 2023 and 5 January 2024.
‘Enough’ campaign – tackling violence against women and girls
After two successful previous phases, ‘Enough’, the Government’s innovative, long-term behaviour change campaign looking to tackle violence against women and girls, has rolled out a new phase of activity, culminating at the end of 2023.
The campaign encourages bystanders to safely intervene when and where they see abuse taking place, providing options for intervention via the amplification of the campaign’s successful and audience-tested STOP mnemonic (Say something, Tell someone, Offer support, Provide a diversion).
Find out more. There are also campaign resources for you to share the message with your audiences.
The ’Enough’ campaign runs in England and Wales only.
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