The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) and the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) have announced an open call for evidence on potential reform of the fit note process for those with long term health conditions. The call follows a programme of work announced at the Autumn Statement in 2023. The call for evidence closes on 8 July 2024.

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) and the Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC) Joint Work and Health Directorate have published a report presenting the initial findings from the evaluation of the 15 WorkWell programme pilots from October 2024 to March 2025. WorkWell supports disabled people and those with health conditions by providing low-intensity assessments, triage and referrals to help individuals remain in or return to work through personalised work and health plans. Early findings show 46% of participants face mental health barriers, with physical and cognitive challenges also noted. Around 46% also reported that their condition greatly impacted their ability to work while only 40% were in paid work before support. Among those in work, 52% were working less than full-time. Participants valued clear, person-centred assessments and coaching, with 70% overall satisfaction and 43% citing a supportive coach. However, 11% were dissatisfied and 13% felt neutral due to unclear communication and unmet expectations. Direct referrals from primary care and Jobcentre Plus are promising but referral volumes remain below targets. Early outcomes reflect improved mental and physical health, increased confidence and some tangible employment gains, although further evidence is needed as the programme continues.

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) and Department for Education (DfE) have announced a package of apprenticeship funding reforms alongside higher education measures. As part of this programme, the Minister for Skills, Baroness Smith of Malvern, has written to Skills England to request advice on which apprenticeship standards should be prioritised for a funding band review in an effort to boost the take up of apprenticeships by young people. Advice on which standards should be prioritised is due by July 2026 and advice on potential funding rates is due by October 2026. The government has set an ambition of 50,000 additional apprenticeship starts for those aged 16–24 by March 2029, against a 40% decline in such starts over the past decade. The £3.3 billion Growth and Skills Levy budget will be refocused: (1) level 7 apprenticeships are de-funded except for those under 22, care leavers under 25 or those under 25 with an education, health and care plan and (2) funding for 16 apprenticeship standards will cease from September 2026.

Pensions analysis: On 14 November 2024, the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) and HM Treasury published a consultation setting out proposed reforms to deliver scale, accelerate consolidation and drive a focus on value over cost in the defined contribution (DC) workplace pensions market and exploring other changes. Suzanne Burrell, partner at Shoosmiths, examines the government’s proposals.

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has announced that Dominic Harris has been confirmed as the new Pensions Ombudsman. Harris will take on the new appointment from 16 January 2023, as the current Pensions Ombudsman, Anthony Arter, will remain in post until 15 January 2023. Harris is currently a Partner in the Pensions Team at law firm CMS and also serves as Chair of the Investment and Defined Contribution Committee of the Association of Pension Lawyers.

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has implemented new benefit and pension rates. The majority of the new rates will apply from 7 April 2025, and those in receipt of the State Pension and other uprated benefits will see an increase in their next payments following 7 April 2025. The State Pension will increase by 4.1% under the Triple Lock mechanism, raising the basic State Pension from £169.50 to £176.45 weekly and the new State Pension to £230.25 weekly. Working-age benefits including Universal Credit will rise by 1.7%, while the Pension Credit minimum guarantee for single pensioners increases to £227.10 weekly. The changes form part of a £6.9bn benefits uprating package affecting millions of claimants.

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has announced the appointment of Deborah Evans as the new chair of The Pensions Ombudsman (TPO), effective from 1 July 2025, for a five-year term. Evans, who currently serves as a non-executive director and chair of TPO’s compliance committee, will take over from Anthony Arter, who has been interim chair since January 2024. The appointment was made by the Secretary of State following an open competition regulated by the Office for the Commissioner of Public Appointments. As chair, Evans will receive £24,000 per year for a minimum time commitment of 36 days annually. The announcement comes as the government’s Pension Schemes Bill continues its passage through Parliament, with proposed measures to strengthen the legal standing of TPO and improve the resolution of pension overpayment cases.

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has announced the appointment of Kirstin Baker as the interim chair of The Pensions Regulator (TPR), effective from 1 August 2025, for a period of up to nine months. Baker, who currently serves as TPR’s Senior Independent Board Member, will succeed Sarah Smart, whose term as chair has concluded, while a competition is undertaken for the next full-term chair. The appointee brings extensive experience from previous roles at the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) and HM Treasury, where they were awarded a CBE for work during the banking crisis. In the interim role, the chair will receive annual remuneration of £73,840, based on a minimum time commitment of 104 days.

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has announced plans to introduce regulations in autumn 2025 enabling multiple employer Collective Defined Contribution (CDC) pension schemes. According to the Pensions Policy Institute modelling, multi-employer CDCs could achieve a 69% replacement rate compared to 40% for annuities. The regulations aim to expand CDC adoption beyond single employers, with implementation planned following parliamentary approval. The announcement precedes the upcoming Pensions Investment Review and Pension Schemes Bill.

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has announced a call for evidence to explore reforming the fit note process to support those with long term health conditions to access timely work and health support. The call for evidence will inform a programme of work announced at the Autumn Statement 2023. It is part of a wider suite of activity to reform the fit note and will act as a prelude to a full consultation on specific policy proposals which will be launched later this year. This call for evidence closes at 11:59pm on 8 July 2024.

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has announced the launch of a consultation seeking views on approaches on modernising the welfare system for those with disabilities and health conditions. DWP has proposed a shift towards tailored support, away from the current fixed cash benefits system. This results from figures showing that over 2.6 million people of working age are now recipients of Personal Independence Payment (PIP) and Disability Living Allowance (DLA), and that monthly new claims have almost doubled since 2019. The accompanying Green Paper sets out suggested changes to the current PIP system, which include changes to the eligibility criteria and redesigning the PIP assessment to address individual needs and link it more to a person’s condition. The consultation closes on 22 July 2024.

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has announced the creation of a new group comprised of government and pension industry representatives to look at helping savers track their pensions. Members will discuss the design and implementation of the proposed new consolidation system as part of new Small Pots Delivery Group. It claims deferred small pots are costly, inefficient, and hard to keep track of. These deferred small pots are small pension pots left inactive, often from a previous job, and typically contain small amounts of money. It is claimed that they make it harder for people to make informed decisions about and keep track of their pension, reducing the amount they may have in retirement.