Source · National Audit Office

DWP customer service

DWP’s customer service has fallen short of expected standards in recent years, and is letting down some of the most vulnerable in society.

Published: 23 Jul 2024 Recommendations: 6 Type: Value for Money NAO confirmed: 6 Department: Department for Work and Pensions
Dept: Department for Work and Pensions Topics: BenefitsOperations and process managementPensionsPeople and operationsWork, welfare and pensions nao.org.uk →

Recommendations

6 items
4 accepted 2 partially accepted 3 implemented 3 in progress

Recommendation 1

Addressee: Department for Work and Pensions · Source location: Page 13, 22a

To improve its customer service, DWP should review the effectiveness of how it communicates claim-processing and call-waiting times to customers, and identify how it can provide fuller and more up-to-date information, at the point of claim and during other key interactions, so customers are informed about the level of service they can expect.

Response position: Partially accepted

Delivery: Implemented · 04/2026 · Confirmed by NAO

Recommendation 2

Addressee: Department for Work and Pensions · Source location: Page 13, 22b

To improve its customer service, DWP should publish comprehensive reports which bring together annual performance, trends over time and whether it has exceeded or fallen short of its standards for its main customer service measures (customer satisfaction, payment accuracy, payment timeliness and telephony).

Response position: Partially accepted

Delivery: Implemented · 07/2026 · Confirmed by NAO

Recommendation 3

Addressee: Department for Work and Pensions · Source location: Page 13, 22c

To improve its customer service, DWP should build its evidence base on the scale and type of avoidable customer contact, and develop a plan to improve its processes and communications in order to reduce avoidable contact and realise efficiency savings.

Response position: Accepted

Delivery: In progress · 12/2026 · Confirmed by NAO

Recommendation 4

Addressee: Department for Work and Pensions · Source location: Page 13, 22d

To improve its customer service, DWP should take action to improve customer service in light of the results of its customer experience survey and follow-up qualitative research, particularly on the reasons for dissatisfaction.

Response position: Accepted

Delivery: In progress · 01/2027 · Confirmed by NAO

Recommendation 5

Addressee: Department for Work and Pensions · Source location: Page 13, 22e

To improve its customer service, DWP should use its insights on the areas that customers prioritise to develop measurable objectives for its customer service improvement plans, including defining what success looks like and how progress will be assessed.

Response position: Accepted

Delivery: In progress · Q4 2026-27 · Confirmed by NAO

Recommendation 6

Addressee: Department for Work and Pensions · Source location: Page 13, 22f

To improve its customer service, DWP should further develop key performance indicators for the Service Modernisation Programme.

Response position: Accepted

Delivery: Implemented · 12/2025 · Confirmed by NAO

Public Accounts Committee follow-up

1 report

The Public Accounts Committee examined this NAO report and published its own recommendations. The government responds to PAC recommendations via Treasury Minutes.