DWP civil servants are pocketing hefty bonuses while pensioners face cuts to their Winter Fuel Payments amid rising living costs
London: It’s pretty wild to hear that civil servants at the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) are raking in bonuses of up to £14,000 while pensioners are losing out on their Winter Fuel Payments. Recent data shows that in 2023-24, the DWP dished out a whopping £645,685 in bonuses to senior staff. That’s a lot of cash!
Can you believe that amount could have covered the Winter Fuel Payments for over 3,000 pensioners? The bonuses were split among 91 top officials, with the average payout being around £7,250. The biggest bonus? A staggering £14,000!
Now, older folks will have to rely on means-tested support from the DWP, like Pension Credit, just to get by. This news has really upset a lot of campaigners, especially since the Labour government decided to means-test the Winter Fuel Allowance during this tough cost of living crisis.
On top of that, the DWP is facing backlash for managing a benefits system that reportedly lost about £13.9 billion to fraud and errors last year. Elliot Keck from the TaxPayers’ Alliance didn’t hold back, saying these bonuses for “bumbling bureaucrats” are totally unjustified given the mess.
He pointed out that while taxpayers are struggling, civil servants are living the dream with their pay and perks. Last year alone, the DWP handed out £11.9 million in bonuses, which could have funded Winter Fuel Payments for nearly 60,000 pensioners!
A government spokesperson defended the bonuses, saying it’s crucial to pay civil servants competitively to attract the best talent. They mentioned tough choices have been made, but they’re still committed to supporting pensioners, with many set to see their state pension rise significantly.
