What is really going on in politics? Get our daily email briefing straight to your inbox Sign up Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Invalid Email

"Reckless" plans to slash millions from the welfare department's bill by shutting Jobcentres across the country have been revealed.

The Department for Work and Pensions today announced it wants to merge staff and facilities from 78 smaller Jobcentre Plus offices into larger ones.

It wants to move another 50 into council or other similar offices to create “one-stop shops”, and shut 27 back offices.

The DWP insisted the move - carried out to slash its bills by £180m a year - would employ “under-used” buildings more efficiently.

But the Public and Commercial Services (PCS) union, which represents DWP staff, warned jobless people will have to travel further to sign on - and claimed thousands of jobs will be put at risk.

A DWP source claimed a figure of thousands of job losses was "completely wrong" but estimated around 750 jobs were at risk.

Scroll down for the list announced today by the DWP

(Image: Getty)

The PCS union warned more than one in ten Jobcentres in England, Wales and Scotland was set to close.

PCS general secretary Mark Serwotka said: "Jobcentres provide a lifeline for unemployed people, and forcing them to travel further is not only unfair, it undermines support to get them back to work.

"We are opposed to these closures and will vigorously fight any attempt to force DWP workers out of their jobs."

There will only be public consultations in cases where Jobcentres are being moved more than three miles or 20 minutes' journey away.

Shadow work and pensions secretary Debbie Abrahams branded the closures "reckless at best and perverse at worst".

She added: "Only this government’s distorted austerity agenda could lead to such contradictory policies. Either the right hand doesn’t know what the left is doing, or they are both acting together to make working people’s lives harder.

“This Tory Government’s decision to close Jobcentres across the country shows they are not serious about helping people to find decent, secure and well-paid work.”

It comes after previous plans to shut half the Jobcentre sites in Glasgow prompted fury from the PCS and SNP MPs.

The DWP today said four out of five claims for Jobseeker's Allowance and 99% of applicants for Universal Credit submit claims online.

The department also pointed out that 2.7 million more people are in work since 2010 following falls in unemployment.

The move has come because a 20-year contract for most of the DWP's 900 sites with property firm Telereal Trillium expires in March 2018.

Employment Minister Damian Hinds said the DWP "want to avoid any redundancies wherever possible".

But he warned MPs: "We do recognise that in a small number of cases relocation will not be reasonable or achievable for individuals working in our back office functions and exits may be required."

A DWP source said help was available for vulnerable or disabled people who face travelling further for face-to-face appointments.

Mr Hinds added: "Where we are proposing closing a site we will take all possible precautions to minimise disruption for claimants, and vulnerable people will receive home visits and postal claims."

In a statement issued by the DWP press team he said: "We will always make sure that people have the support they need to get into and progress within work, that's why we are recruiting 2,500 more work coaches to help those who need it most.

"The way the world works has changed rapidly in the last 20 years and the welfare state needs to keep pace. As more people access their benefits through the internet, many of our buildings are under-used. We are concentrating our resources on what we know best helps people into work.

"The changes we've announced today will help ensure that the way we deliver our services reflect the reality of today's welfare system."

Is your local Jobcentre affected?

This is from a full list of Jobcentres earmarked to be "divested" - it's thought in most cases this will mean moving its services into another Jobcentre nearby. Others not on this list are earmarked for 'co-location' in council or other offices. This list also does not include previously-announced closures or back office sites that are set to shut. For the full list please click the link above to the government's website.

Bolsover

Bolton Farnworth

Brighouse Owler Ings Road

Bristol Easton JCP

Carlisle Stocklund House Castle Street

Chelmsley Wood JCP

Chesham JCP

Clevedon JCP

Colne

Coventry Tile Hill

Darwen

Herne Bay

Hornchurch

Kings Lynn JCP

Liskeard JCP

Liverpool Wavertree

Liverpool Williamson Square

Brixton

Dagenham

Edgware

Finchley

Malton Norton Road Norton (Ryedale)

Manchester Longsight

Mansfield Hill House

Hammersmith

Kilburn

Broxburn

Leytonstone

Newcastle Upon Tyne, Condercum House (Newcastle West)

Newcastle Upon Tyne, Coquet House (Newcastle East).

Newton-le-Willows

Nottingham Hyson Green JCP

Edinburgh

Oxford Floyds Row JCP (Screened Services)

Inverness Church Street

Larkhall Interview Room

Neasden

Plaistow

Southall

Port Glasgow

Wick Girnigoe Street

Petersfield JCP

Sutton

Plymouth Old Tree Court

Preston Friargate

Wandsworth

Bargoed

Rotherham High Street Goldthorpe

Sheffield Eastern Avenue

Llandrindod Wells Automobile Palace Princes Avenue

Skipton Cavendish House Newmarket Street

South Shields Chapter Row

Westminster

Spalding JCP

Mountain Ash New County Road

Newtown Afon House The Park

Pyle Ffald Road Shopping Centre

Tredegar Crown Building Upper Coronation Street

Ystradgynlais Wind Road

Tamworth JCP

Telford Church Street Madeley JCP Church Street M

Tunbridge Wells

Wellington JCP

Whitley Bay 158 Whitley Road

Whitstable

Wilmslow

Winsford

Woking JCP

Wythenshawe

Andover JCP

Batley 26 Wellington Street

Bristol Central JCP

Clay Cross JCP

Coleford JCP

Haverhill JCP

Helston JCP

Hoylake

Hull Market Place

Leeds 35 Eastgate

Liverpool Aintree

Liverpool Edge Hill

Liverpool Norris Green

Alexandria JCP

Benbecula

Shipley Wainman Street

Lanark Atholl House

Clapham

Croydon

East Ham

Edmonton

Blackwood Newbridge House 75-77 High Street

Edmonton (Annex)

Eltham

Highgate

Hounslow

Lewisham (Catford)

London Bexleyheath 38-46 Avenue Road