DWP Permanent Secretary Announces Departure Following Carer's Allowance Controversy
Sir Peter Schofield, the permanent secretary at the Department for Work and Pensions, has informed staff that he will step down in July, citing personal reasons. This move comes amid mounting scrutiny over the DWP's handling of the carer's allowance scandal, which has unfairly burdened thousands of unpaid carers with significant debts and, in some instances, fraud convictions.
Scandal Timeline and Public Outcry
The carer's allowance scandal, revealed through a Guardian investigation, exposed leadership failures at the DWP that led to systemic overpayments. Carers reported severe distress, with some describing suicidal thoughts and feeling trapped by what they called a "faceless machine." The public outrage drew comparisons to the Post Office scandal, highlighting the profound impact on vulnerable individuals.
Despite the DWP's insistence that Schofield's departure is unrelated to recent criticism, independent reviews have pointed to systemic leadership failures. In November, a government-commissioned review by disability rights expert Liz Sayce blamed poor benefit design and flawed administrative guidance, noting a "lack of organisational curiosity" within the DWP regarding the scandal's effects.
Schofield's Legacy and Criticisms
In a staff email, Schofield stated, "There is never a good moment to step away from a job like this, but having passed my eight-year anniversary, now feels like a good time to pause and reflect on what I want to do next while spending more time with my family." A career civil servant for 35 years, he has led the DWP since 2018, overseeing the expansion of universal credit and the department's response to increased demand during the Covid-19 pandemic.
However, critics argue that little progress was made on fixing carer's allowance issues, despite promises to MPs in 2019. Tens of thousands more carers fell into debt under his watch. The work and pensions select committee, chaired by Debbie Abrahams, expressed "difficult to have confidence" in Schofield's ability to oversee improvements, citing a "culture of complacency" and internal DWP blogposts that blamed carers rather than systemic flaws.
Ongoing Reforms and Future Accountability
Ministers have ordered the reassessment of approximately 200,000 cases where carers may have incurred overpayments due to DWP failures in following earnings averaging rules. It is estimated that around 26,000 carers could have their debts cancelled or reduced. In a statement, Abrahams thanked Schofield for his service but emphasized that the committee will "continue to hold the government to account" to ensure claimant safeguards are central to DWP policy.
A DWP spokesperson praised Schofield's decades of service, highlighting his role in transforming services and managing pandemic challenges. The department remains committed to overhauling carer's allowance and improving protections for benefit claimants, as the fallout from this scandal continues to shape welfare policy discussions.
