State Pension Online (SPOL) is an online service, currently being tested with customers who are about to retire, that will allow individuals to enter their details via a secure website rather than having to make their claim over the phone. A similar online service for Jobseekers Allowance is already operating successfully.

Minister of State for Pensions and the Ageing Society, Angela Eagle said;

“Modernising services to increase efficient delivery and accessibility for our customers is important. Enabling customers to apply for their State Pension online will make it easier for them to access their pensions, whilst increasing efficiency and saving the taxpayers’ money.”

SPOL is expected to go live to the public this summer and is the latest in a line of initiatives from the DWP to provide better services for customers. Between 0.5 million and 0.75 million citizens retire each year and will benefit from the service when it launches.

Utilising the internet more efficiently is only part of the Department’s approach to service modernisation. We are also piloting the use of text messaging to remind customers about their appointments with us, allowing us to avoid more of the cost of missed appointments. Applications for the iPhone and other smart phones are also being developed to aid identification of suitable job vacancies based on a customer’s profile.

The DWP is committed to making £550m worth of efficiency savings through a range of measures including more effective use of IT and making more services available online.