DWP workers to vote on strikes in January 2026

Public and Commercial Services union (PCS) members at the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) - who work in jobcentres, Universal Credit service centres, Personal Independence Payment centres, pension centres and child maintenance offices – will be moving to a statutory strike ballot in January 2026. DWP’s 2025/26 pay offer was rejected in consultative ballot in October (see notes below).

A recent survey of PCS members in the DWP revealed that many members are unable to pay household bills, are turning to credit cards to get through the month and are struggling with debt. Up to 20% of respondents claim in-work benefits and almost 14% of respondents reported using foodbanks for extra support.

PCS general secretary Fran Heathcote says:

“The functioning of the welfare state depends on our members’ hard work and good will. But they have had enough of poverty pay. DWP has some of the lowest paid members in the civil service, paid well below the market value for their skilled work.

“PCS members’ ringing endorsement of strike action shows there’s a strong determination to fight. All they want is fair pay in recognition to the vitally important service they deliver to some of the most vulnerable people in society.

“Ministers and departmental leaders must take their fingers out of their ears, talk to our members and come to terms with reality so that we can resolve this dispute.”

Notes

DWP’s overall offer (in line with the Treasury pay remit guidance of 3.25% plus an additional 0.5%) failed to prioritise the issues of chronic low pay. In the lowest three grades, there are 25,000 workers whose pay will be flattened from 1 April 2026 and level with the National Living Wage. Instead of addressing this, DWP used the additional 0.5% address anomalies in higher grades.