DWP: information management policies
Guidance for Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) staff, contractors, suppliers and third parties on how to manage and store information.
Updates to this page
- From:
- Department for Work and Pensions
- Published:
- 25 May 2018
- Last updated:
-
7 April 2026
Show all updates
-
Updated version of DWP Information Management Standard added with correct url.
-
Replaced DWP Information Management Policy version 6.9 with version 7.0. Replaced DWP managing customer records guide with DWP Information Management Standard version 1.0. Replaced PDF with Customer Records Retention Schedule version 1.0.
-
Updated "DWP managing customer records guide" and "DWP managing customer records guide: Appendix 2.2" to versions 6.4.
-
Updated "DWP Information Management Policy" to version 6.9. There is a change to terminology in paragraph 4.4.4 about disposing of information. Updated "DWP managing customer records guide" to version 6.3. There is a change to the entry for Industrial Injuries Schemes in Appendix 2.2 to state it does not include national schemes. Appendix 2.2 has been added as a separate document.
-
Updated the DWP Information Management Policy to version 6.8 with changes to paragraphs 1.3 and 4.3.5.
-
Amendments to Information Management Policy (now version 6.7), and Managing Customer Records (now version 6.1) and Appendix 2.2.
-
Published an updated version of the DWP managing customer records guide.
-
Updated DWP: information management policies, paragraphs 1.3, 2.1, 4.1.6, 4.2.3 and 4.3.2.
-
Updated DWP Information Management Policy.
-
Updated 'Information management policy' to version 6.4.
-
Updated paragraph 3.8, address to send benefit records to. New address is Heywood (Restore PLC) Unit D, Birch Business Park, Heywood, OL10 2SX.
-
Updated the Managing Customer Records document (section 1, section 3.3.3, section 4.2.5, section 6 and section 7).
-
Changes made to section 7 (Non-standard retention) of the managing customer records guide. The changes have been made to the first sentence of section 7 and to the entry for Finance records.
-
Updated the DWP managing customer records guide.
-
Revised paragraph 17 in the DWP information management policy (IMP). This is version 6.1 of the IMP.
-
Revised the bullet point about Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit (IIDB) in section 4: guidance for specific customer records of the managing customer records guide. The note that miner’s claims are embargoed has been removed, the embargo is now lifted.
-
Revised managing customer records staff guide - moved the Child Maintenance Group from the 14 month list to the exempted 14 month list.
-
Edited section 4 in Managing Customer Records to include an email address for further information about exceptions.
-
Updated 'DWP information management policy' to include mentions of SharePoint Online and OneDrive. Updated 'DWP managing customer records guide' to reflect not keeping records locally for more than 4 weeks and the list of benefits that don’t have the standard 14 month retention period.
-
Updated 'Information management policy' to version 5.
-
Updated the 'General retention principles' section of the 'Managing customer records' guide.
-
Updated managing customer records guidance to version 3.2.
-
Updated information management policy to version 4.1.
-
First published.
-
Documents
Customer Records Retention Schedule
PDF, 302 KB, 12 pages
This file may not be suitable for users of assistive technology.
Request an accessible format
Details
We publish this information to help people understand how we manage personal data.
The DWP personal information charter contains the standards you can expect when we ask for, or hold, your personal information. It also explains the rights you have under data protection law.