The first version of the GOV.UK App is now available to download, transforming the way people interact with government services and making it easier to manage everything from childcare payments to receiving travel guidance from your pocket.

This comes alongside an overhaul of the GOV.UK  website, which gets 88 million visits each month by people looking to complete essential daily tracks. The ‘public beta’, meaning the technology is still being modified as people use it, will allow people to custom the app to work best for them, with the home page showing the services each individual needs and uses the most.

People will be able to choose what topics to prioritise on the landing page, with options such as ‘business’, ‘driving and transport’ or ‘benefits’, enabling people to access what is most important to them right away.

The government intends to add more features and tools over time, with an AI chatbot, GOV.UK Chat, set to launch later this year, helping answer niche questions quickly. Accessing benefits is also a major mission for the app, to make it easy for people to apply for support they’re eligible for.

This follows the announcement of the digital blueprint for government which includes a number of tools to make it easier for people and businesses to interact with the government, saving time and transforming the UK’s public services. Later this year, the UK government will also launch the GOV.UK Wallet which will include a pilot digital driving licence.

Technology secretary Peter Kyle said: “Our new GOV.UK App shows for the first time how this government is overhauling taxpayer-funded services as we deliver on our Plan for Change. By putting public services in your pocket, we will do away with clunky paper forms and hours spent on hold, so you can immediately get the information you need and continue on with the rest of your day.

“This release of the GOV.UK App is just the start. Soon, you will be able to use it to ask GOV.UK Chat any question you like about government services, and get a reliable answer immediately. You will then get personal notifications, reminding you when your MOT is due or whether you need to register to vote, and then you will be able to closely track your childcare credits just as you do your bank account.”