Organisations supporting benefit claimants questioned on DWP response to coronavirus
5 May 2020
The Work and Pensions Committee is to take evidence from organisations supporting people claiming benefits on how the DWP has responded to the coronavirus outbreak.
- Watch Parliament TV: DWP's response to the coronavirus outbreak
- Inquiry: DWP's response to the coronavirus outbreak
- Work and Pensions Committee
Witnesses
Wednesday 6 May - This session will be held virtually
Panel One (at 9.30am)
- Dan Norris, Head of Advice and Rights, Child Poverty Action Group
- Minesh Patel, Principal Policy Manager, Citizens Advice
- Emma Revie, Chief Executive, Trussell Trust
- Anna Stephenson, Welfare Benefit Specialist, Turn2Us
Panel Two (at 10.30am)
- Azmina Siddique, Policy and Research Manager for Poverty and Inequality, The Children's Society
- Eve Byrne, Head of Campaigns and Public Affairs, Macmillan
- Geoff Fimister, Co-Chair, Disability Benefits Consortium
- Stephanie Kleynhans, Policy Lead, Shelter
- Jessie Seal, Campaigns and Policy Co-ordinator, NACCOM
Purpose of the session
The session will focus on the Department's handling of the large increase in benefit claims and how the Universal Credit, PIP and ESA claims and assessment processes are working. It will also examine wider questions about the benefit system and changes to entitlement and the support available for those with specific disabilities and health conditions.
Last month the Committee questioned Ministers on the Department responses to the unprecedented increase in applications for Universal Credit and its overall approach to supporting people claiming benefits. A survey carried out by the Committee to find out people's experiences of the benefit system during the pandemic received more than 6,000 responses.
Further information
Image: universal-credit-W&P