"I sleep hungry" – one in five DWP workers claim benefits, says PCS

One in five workers at the Department for Work and Pensions claim in-work benefits, a shock Public and Commercial Services (PCS) poll has uncovered.

The survey of 35,568 members revealed 20% of respondents were in receipt of benefits, including Universal Credit, to supplement their wages.

The figure is more than double the number of members who answered “Yes” to the same question in September.

The survey also showed 7% of respondents have foodbanks or a foodshare system at work, 12% have a second or third job to boost their income and 11% have used foodbanks in the twelve months (up from 8% last year).

PCS general secretary Mark Serwotka said: “If ministers had a conscience, they would be ashamed to be paying their own workforce so little they have to claim the benefits they themselves administer.

“Ministers should be paying their staff a decent wage that keeps up with the rate of inflation, not leaving them to rely on foodbanks so they can eat.

“That so many foodbanks have been set up in government offices is a stain on ministers, who must take note of this survey and take action to address this unacceptable in-work poverty.

“If they fail to do that, they’ll be failing their own workforce, and it will be no surprise that our members vote ‘Yes’ in the re-ballot and strike action in the civil service escalates."

The survey also revealed managers at one DWP office refused to allow staff to open a foodbank.

One DWP worker told PCS: “Staff in my workplace asked for a foodbank to help each other out, but the management team blocked it, saying it would make bad press if it got out.

“I think it makes even worse press that we were denied the chance to help our own colleagues.”

Another said: “We had to use foodbanks for the first time in my life this year because the cost-of-living crisis, especially the exorbitant rent crisis.”

A third said, simply: “I sleep hungry.”

ends

The survey was sent to 35,568 PCS members working at the DWP and was returned by 5,638 members (16%).