More than 50,000 staff at the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) are set to begin voting on whether to launch strike action, in an escalating row over pay and conditions.
Ballot Dates and Scale of Dispute
The Public and Commercial Services (PCS) union has confirmed that a statutory ballot for industrial action will open on Monday 19 January 2026 and close on 23 February 2026. The vote will involve PCS members working across the entire DWP estate.
This includes staff in:
- Jobcentres
- Universal Credit service centres
- Personal Independence Payment (PIP) centres
- Pension centres
- Child maintenance offices
Root Causes: Poverty Pay and Wage Compression
Union leaders state that the dispute stems from years of chronic low pay and wage compression within the department. PCS General Secretary Fran Heathcote emphasised that strike action is a last resort for members who are proud of their work but are struggling financially.
"This level of poverty pay is not sustainable," Heathcote said. "Members across the department have told us that they are struggling financially as debt spirals. And as workplace stress increases, people’s mental health further deteriorates."
A critical issue highlighted is that from 1 April 2026, some 25,000 workers in the lowest three pay grades will see their wages aligned with the National Living Wage. The union argues that DWP's pay offer for 2025/26 failed to address this problem and was consequently rejected.
Recruitment Crisis and Treasury Funding
The PCS points to a severe recruitment and retention crisis within the DWP, exacerbated by the significant operational transformation the department is undergoing. This situation, the union contends, qualifies DWP to request increased pay funding from the Treasury.
Unlike other government departments, DWP did not submit a business case to the Treasury for additional pay spending, despite recognising it could have accessed at least £6.6 million to boost consolidated pay. The readiness for action was signalled in a strong 'yes' vote during a consultative ballot held in October 2025.
The potential strike action threatens to disrupt key welfare services, including benefit payments and pension services, impacting millions of citizens across the UK. The outcome of the February ballot will determine if the UK faces its largest civil service strike in years.
