The DWP announced on 17 March 2022 plans to close 41 DWP processing offices. In 13 of the sites staff have been offered no alternative DWP site to continue their careers in. In the remaining 28 sites many staff will be required to make long journeys to remain in work. The decision to close the 41 sites puts thousands of DWP staff at risk of redundancy, many in deprived communities already damaged by government cuts.
PCS members at these DWP sites are responsible for processing benefit payments and ensuring that some of the most vulnerable people in society receive their benefits payments.
As essential workers these PCS members have worked throughout the pandemic to ensure the safety nets provided by the government function properly. In a time of crisis PCS members on the 41 sites have assisted citizens in avoiding destitution.
PCS is demanding that the DWP reverses its decision to close the offices or finds other suitable accommodation in the communities that these offices are currently located. Stop the DWP, the government department for employment, from creating unemployment by emailing your MP using the suggested text below.
We the undersigned call on the Secretary of State for DWP, Therese Coffey to halt redundancies and office closures.
