The support package, which was originally offered via Jobcentres but is now accessible digitally, is also being delivered by employers in various regions after government puts £4m into pilot exercises
The Department for Work and Pensions has unveiled a new digital ‘Midlife MOT’ designed to help older people better understand later-life career opportunities and plan for their financial future.
The offering was first provided via the department’s network of Jobcentres, where work coaches supported benefit claimants aged from 45 to 65 to explore new career opportunities and undertake financial planning. Funding provided in the spring budget is intended to enable the DWP to expand fivefold the number of people offered these services – from 8,000 to 40,000 a year.
Earlier this year, the department invested a further £4m in a pilot programme to enable a range of private-sector employers in three regions – North-East England, Devon and Cornwall, and East Anglia – to provide Midlife MOT services to older members of their workforce.
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Alongside these forms of in-person support provision, the DWP has now brought together an array of services digitally, via a newly launched website that collates offerings into three core areas: work; health; and money.
The site directs people towards tools include the DWP’s own jobseeking portal and NHS services, as well as support offerings from charities including Citizens Advice and Mind.
The government’s MoneyHelper service has also created an online tool allowing users to create “a personalised report to help people understand what to prioritise to improve their financial position, from now through to retirement”.
The government said that the suite of digital services offered via the online platform “will be continually reviewed to ensure it is as interactive and tailored as possible and people will soon be able to access content specific to England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland”.
Minister for employment Guy Opperman added: “We are all living longer and planning for later life is essential but knowing where to start can be daunting. Our digital Midlife MOT is open to everyone and easy to access, and will give people the tools to make informed decisions – on their personal finances, their health and on their careers. I would encourage older people in particular to invest the time to see exactly what it can do for them.
