DWP permanent secretary to step down after carer’s allowance scandal

Peter Schofield tells staff he will leave the department for personal reasons

The government's top welfare official is to step down after his department's handling of a longstanding benefits failure that plunged thousands into debt and became known as the carer's allowance scandal.

Sir Peter Schofield, the permanent secretary at the Department for Work and Pensions, announced to staff on Monday that he is to step down in July for personal reasons.