PCS launches consultative ballot on pay for DWP members

PCS has rejected the DWP's final pay offer for 2025–26 because it fails to address the serious issue of chronic low pay. Again AAs, AOs and some EOs face the prospect of being on the National Living Wage (NLW) from April 2026.

Why are members being balloted?

The civil service pay remit allows for average awards of up to 3.25% with an extra 0.5% to deal with low pay. PCS pressed DWP to use this flexibility to protect the lowest paid and to build a buffer between AA, AO and EO pay and the forecasted 2026 NLW. The employer refused.

Instead, for the second year running, DWP chose to focus on fixing structural issues for SEO, Grade 7 and Specialist roles, making them more competitive with other departments. Meanwhile, the majority of the lowest paid staff, who will be central to delivering the government’s transformation programme, remain stuck at the bottom.

PCS also pressed DWP to submit a business case to the Treasury. The remit guidance allowed this if departments faced recruitment or retention risks. DWP clearly qualifies. Yet the executive team refused to act, despite admitting that £6.6m from the bonus pot could have been redirected if a case was approved. Other departments have submitted cases year after year. DWP simply refused to ask.

How DWP compares

Offers elsewhere show how far behind DWP is: Department for Education (up to 7.88% for AOs), Ministry of Justice (5.6% for AAs, 5.7% for AOs), and HMRC (4% for AOs and EOs).

What happens next

The DWP intends for the award to be backdated to 1 July and paid on 30 September 2025.

But PCS will not let the matter rest. Because of DWP’s refusal to deal with low pay, the group executive committee has agreed to consult members on industrial action.

A consultative ballot will run from Tuesday 9 September to noon on Tuesday 30 September. Members will get a secure two-part code by email or letter to vote online. If we don’t have members’ personal email addresses, they will receive instructions on how to participate in the ballot by post.

This is your time to be heard. Vote Yes and show DWP that they need you more than you need them.

New members can still participate in the ballot if they join PCS before noon on Friday 12 September.