The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has invested around £4m to expand its mid-life MOT scheme, with more than 3,000 workers in Devon and Cornwall expected to benefit from the extended offering.

Mid-life MOTs, which were initially introduced in 2019 to encourage older workers to take stock of their wellbeing and finances, act as a free review for workers in their 40s and 50s and aim to help them better prepare for their retirement.

The DWP is now expanding the offering, which is currently only delivered in Jobcentres to eligible benefit claimants, by collaborating with private suppliers, appointing Capita to run the programme in Devon and Cornwall.

The expansion aims to ensure that people between the ages of 45 and 55 in work and not claiming benefits are able to make use of the same support and guidance, signposted to them direct by their employer, with more than 3,000 workers in Devon and Cornwall set to benefit.

The programme will also include help on boosting confidence for later life planning, signposting to helpful tools and providing employees with information and guidance on their health, enabling them to take action tailored to their circumstances.

Commenting on the plans, Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, Mel Stride MP said: “The Mid-Life MOT will give people in Devon and Cornwall between the ages of 45 and 55 a great opportunity to really understand the key life choices that underpin their future.”

Adding to this, Capita Health, Education and Welfare Business managing director and client director, Antony King, stated: “We are delighted to be delivering the government’s mid-Life MOT pilot in Cornwall and Devon, which will equip employees with the tools to help their staff take stock of their finances, skills, and health, enabling them to better prepare for their retirement and build financial resilience.

“Capita has a strong track record of supporting people throughout their life events, and this partnership with the DWP is a very much a natural application of our expertise in healthcare, employment, and pensions.

“We look forward to working with employers across Cornwall and Devon to support their staff in assessing where they currently are and how they can get to where they want to be in terms of their career or retirement.”

The private sector Mid-Life pilot forms part of the wider Mid-Life MOT package, with the Chancellor also announcing plans to increase the number of people who can access the support via their local Jobcentre, from 8,000 to 40,000 a year in the recent Spring Budget.

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