The Pension, Disability and Carers Service

The Pension, Disability and Carers Service is an executive agency of the Department for Work and Pensions which was created in April 2008^[1].

The PDCS brings together two former separate executive agencies, The Pension Service and the Disability and Carers Service. These two agencies have kept their corporate branding and still provide services under their separate identities. The decision was made due to the two agencies sharing roughly fifty percent of the same customers and as a single agency, the rationalisation of services would provide a better service for customers^[2]

The Pension Service

The Pension Service's logo

With the creation of the Department for Work and Pensions in June 2001, The Pension Service was created, bringing together many different departments and divisions. The Pension Service is a 'dedicated service for current and future pensioners'^[1].

The Pension Service consists of local Pension Centres and centrally-based centres, many of latter are based at the Tyneview Park complex in Newcastle upon Tyne. At Tyneview Park the following centres are found:

• Future Pension Centre (FPC) provides state pension forecasts for people approaching retirement age^[3].
• National Pension Centre (NPC) deals with change of circumstances and enquiries regarding pension payments into bank accounts^[4].
• Pension Tracing Service (PTS) helps track old pensions and pension schemes^[5].
• International Pension Centre (IPC) deals with all enquiries regarding the payment of state pension, bereavement benefits, incapacity benefits and other such benefits for those living abroad^[6].

Local Pension Centres deal with localised claims for state pension and retirement related benefits. Pension Centres are found all over the country, and for the residents of London a central London Pension Centre is housed at Tyneview Park^[7] Such benefits dealt with at local Pension Centres include:

• Pension Credit (replaced a former scheme known as 'Minimum Income Guarantee' in October 2003)
• Winter Fuel Payments
• Cold Weather Payments

The Disability and Carers Service

The Disability and Carers Service offers financial support for those who are disabled and their carers, whether in or out of employment. The DCS have offices throughout the country and deal with the following benefits^[8]:

• Disability Living Allowance
• Attendance Allowance
• Carer’s Allowance
• Vaccine Damage Payment

References

1. ^ ^{a b} http://www.dwp.gov.uk/aboutus/#business
2. ^ http://www.dwp.gov.uk/mediacentre/pressreleases/2008/jan/emp058-220108.asp
3. ^ http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Pensionsandretirementplanning/StatePension/StatePensionforecast/DG_10014008
4. ^ http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Dl1/Directories/DG_180030
5. ^ http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Pensionsandretirementplanning/PlanningForRetirement/AboutToRetire/DG_10027189
6. ^ http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Dl1/Directories/UsefulContactsByCategory/Over50sContacts/DG_178684
7. ^ http://www.blurtit.com/q795987.html
8. ^ http://www.dwp.gov.uk/lifeevent/benefits/dcs/

External links

• Department for Work and Pensions website
• Pensions and retirement planning (Directgov)
• Disability and Carers Service website