The Department of Social Security (DSS) was a governmental agency in the United Kingdom from 1988 to 2001.

History

After the Fowler report, the Department of Health and Social Security separated during 1988 to form two departments, one of which was the DSS. During 2001, the department was largely replaced by the Department for Work and Pensions, with the other responsibilities of the department assumed by the Treasury and the Ministry for Defence.

Beginning in 1989, the Department of Social Security was subdivided into six executive agencies - firstly into the Resettlement agency, in 1990 ITSA (Information Technology Services Agency), the Benefits Agency and Contributions Agency in 1991, the Child Support Agency in 1993 and the War Pensions Agency in 1994.

As part of the UK government's spending review (March 1998),transcription of DSS:July 1998 - Archive of The Treasury Dept. of the government of the U.K. of Britain Retrieved 2012-06-06 a paper New Ambitions for our Country: A New Contract for Welfare (1998) announced plans to increase efficiency ("streamline") in the administration of benefits from policy of social welfare, plans subsequently adopted as the "single gateway to benefits".secondary - G Duncan, T Eardley, M Evans, P Ughetto, W van Oorschot S Wright - Towards 'Single Gateways'?-A Cross-National Review of the Changing Roles of Employment Offices in Seven Countries The Welfare Reform and Pensions Act 1999J Fulbrook DOI: 10.1111/1468-2230.00318 The Modern Law Review March 2001 Retrieved 2012-06-06The Crown (legislation.gov) Table of Contents The National Archives - Retrieved 2012-06-06 brought reforms to the DSS guided by the principle of "work for those that can and security for those that cannot".The Crown (legislation.gov) Background to the Act The National Archives - Retrieved 2012-06-06

Secretaries of state + Secretaries of State for Social Security (1988–2001) Secretary of State Term of office Political party Cabinet John Moore 25 July 1988 22 July 1989 ConservativeThatcher III Tony Newton 23 July 1989 9 April 1992 ConservativeMajor I Peter Lilley 10 April 1992 1 May 1997 ConservativeMajor II Harriet Harman 1 May 1997 27 July 1998LabourBlair I Alistair Darling 27 July 1998 8 June 2001 Labour

References