The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has expanded a scheme to protect taxpayer-funded housing support and improve standards in the private rented sector by extending, following a successful pilot, enhanced enforcement powers to 41 local authorities in England, enabling them to use streamlined access to Universal Credit data to pursue Rent Repayment Orders against landlords who breach housing law by operating without licences, ignoring improvement notices, or providing unsafe accommodation, with the aim of protecting around 400,000 households receiving housing support and preventing public money from being spent on substandard housing. The expansion, supported by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, is underpinned by provisions in the Renters’ Rights Act 2025 that allow councils to recover up to 24 months of rent, doubling previous limit, thereby strengthening deterrence and increasing the recovery of public funds, as demonstrated during the pilot by the successful reclamation of housing support and fraud referrals, while reinforcing compliance with housing standards and ensuring better value for money for the public purse.

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has announced an update on the summary management information for the DWP's Legal Entitlements and Administrative Practice (LEAP) exercise to correct State Pension underpayments. This followed from when the DWP found out in 2020 that a number of individuals had not been paid their automatic legal increase. The publication has included information on the progress of the LEAP exercise, the purpose of which is to check and correct individual cases as well as the amount of arrears to be repaid to date.

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has announced a recruitment drive for new case managers and caseworkers to clear the inherited backlog in the Access to Work scheme by September 2027. This represents a 72% increase to the 658 people working on the scheme. The scheme supports disabled people by providing funds for specialist equipment, support workers including British Sign Language interpreters and travel expenses. The number of claims has more than doubled since 2018–19, and there are around 60,000 applications pending a decision, including 48,270 from the previous government. New case managers will undergo training to manage complex applications, and the government is prioritising cases where applicants are due to start work within four weeks.

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has appointed Anthony Arter CBE as the Interim Chair of The Pensions Ombudsman (TPO) on 5 January 2024. Anthony Arter will succeed Caroline Rookes, who passed away in October 2023 and served as Chair of TPO since September 2019.

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) have updated its governance structure through the appointment of new Departmental Board members. In particular, Liz Kendall is now the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions and Sir Stephen Timms and Alison McGovern are both Ministers of State for Work and Pensions.

Pensions analysis: On 22 November 2023, the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) issued a response to its call for evidence ‘Options for Defined Benefit schemes’ (the Response). The DWP addressed responses to its call for evidence on how defined benefit (DB) pension schemes could be encouraged to contribute to economic growth by investment in productive asset classes, such as start-up companies, private equity and infrastructure, while maintaining benefit security for members and the stability of the gilt market, and without undermining trustees’ fiduciary duties. Nick White (Knowledge Counsel) and Harriet Sayer (Senior Counsel) of Travers Smith LLP comment on the key aspects of the response, the implications for pension schemes, and the next steps.

In response to a question posed by Baroness Altmann CBE, the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has clarified the Pensions Regulator’s (TPR) policy on using the term 'gender' in place of the Equality Act 2010's terms 'sex' and 'gender reassignment' in its Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Strategy. The DWP has confirmed that TPR employs the term 'gender' as defined by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) at the time of the strategy's publication. This approach is part of a broader strategy that extends beyond the nine protected characteristics outlined in the Equality Act 2010, which includes sex and gender reassignment. TPR has committed to reviewing its EDI policy either when the strategy is refreshed or when the ONS issues new guidance, whichever takes place earlier.

In a statement made by Torsten Bell MP, the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has concluded its annual statutory review of the Automatic Enrolment (AE) thresholds for the 2025 to 2026 financial year. DWP has confirmed that all AE thresholds for 2025-26 will be maintained at their 2024-25 levels. This decision aims to ensure the continued stability of AE for both employers and individuals. The AE earnings trigger will remain at £10,000, the lower earnings limit of the qualifying earnings band will remain at £6,240 while the upper earnings limit of the qualifying earnings band will remain at £50,270. The review focused on supporting individuals for whom pension saving is economically viable, while also considering affordability for employers and taxpayers.

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has published a response to its consultation on the alternative quality requirement for defined benefit (DB) and hybrid pension schemes that are being used for automatic enrolment. According to the response, the evidence and analysis has shown that the overall objectives of the alternative quality requirements continue to be met and to operate as intended. The current measures will remain unchanged for the time being. The next statutory review is scheduled for 2026.

In a written parliamentary question raised by Zarah Sultana MP addressed to the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, she asked what measures the Department were taking to enhance transparency and consumer control in defined contribution pension transfers when these transfers are not executed on a specific date or at a specified value. In response on 16 May 2025, Torsten Bell, Minister for Pensions on behalf of the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), confirmed that the DWP is working with regulatory bodies, the pensions industry and other stakeholders to identify and explore potential changes to pension transfer processes to enhance efficiency while also maintaining consumer protection. In particular, the DWP explained that it has engaged with other government departments, pensions institutions, consumer organisations as well as the pensions industry to consider if the practical application of the Occupational and Personal Pension Schemes (Conditions for Transfers) Regulations 2021, SI 2021/1237 could be improved.

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) announced on 8 January 2026  in a House of Commons Written Question and Answer that further regulations will be made in Spring 2026 to include updates to the treatment of scheme-specific lump sums for individuals with Enhanced Protection, with the majority of provisions having retrospective effect from 6 April 2024;  the date when the Lifetime Allowance was abolished. While the forthcoming regulations are expected to refine elements of the post-Lifetime Allowance framework, there is no indication that they will permit the current tax consequences of lump sums to be unwound once paid. HMRC has previously confirmed in Newsletter 173 that tax-free pension lump sums are an irreversible tax event, even where payments are returned or pension contracts are cancelled. Once a pension commencement lump sum (PCLS) or uncrystallised funds pension lump sum (UFPLS) is paid, the associated use of an individual’s lump sum allowance and lump sum death benefit allowance cannot be reversed, regardless of any subsequent repayment or cancellation.

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) is exploring proposals to grant the Pension Protection Fund (PPF) increased flexibility in reducing the levy collected from pension schemes. This initiative aims to unlock millions of pounds for schemes, potentially boosting economic growth by allowing employers to invest more in their businesses. Current legislation restricts the PPF from raising the levy beyond 25% of the previous year's collection. The DWP and the PPF are collaborating to consider further flexibility for the PPF Board to adjust the levy, which would require primary legislation. As of 31 March 2024, the PPF reported reserves of £13.2 billion, actuarial liabilities of £18.8 billion, and £32.1 billion in assets under management. Any changes to the pension protection levy will aim to balance the interests of levy payers and members.