Director General, Social Security, Disability and Pensions

Katie Farrington

Biography

Katie was appointed Director General, Social Security, Disability and Pensions in November 2024. Prior to that she was Director General for Disability, Health and Pensions.

Her previous roles include:

  • Director for Universal Credit and Employment Policy and senior responsible officer for the Kickstart Scheme in DWP
  • Director for Technology, Digital and Data in the Department for Health and Social Care and NHSX
  • Head of the Public Services team in the Economic and Domestic Affairs Secretariat in Cabinet Office
  • leading on school standards policy in the Department for Education

Katie has 3 children. She is also a Trustee for Volunteering Matters, a UK volunteering charity.

Director General, Social Security, Disability and Pensions

The Director General for Social Security, Disability and Pensions is responsible for: 

  • the development and implementation of strategy and policy to improve outcomes for people receiving support from the social security system; and in particular for disabled people, people with health conditions, and pensioners and savers 

  • the Government’s overall social security system and welfare strategy  

  • Universal Credit policy and analysis, Housing policy and analysis, and Carers policy and analysis  

  • other policy areas including devolution  

  • DWP’s partnerships with arm’s length bodies.

Department for Work and Pensions