Committees

DWP's response to the coronavirus outbreak

Inquiry

This inquiry looked at how coronavirus is affecting people who rely on the benefits system. It examined the Department for Work and Pensions’ (DWP) response to the Covid-19 pandemic and whether the Universal Credit system meets the needs of those claiming benefits during this time.

It focused on:

  • The experiences of people claiming benefits for the first time
  • The experiences of people already claiming benefits
  • The experiences of people who need support but can’t claim any benefits.

Read the call for evidence to find out more about the inquiry.

Upcoming events

View all events

No upcoming events scheduled

Past events

Thursday 16 September 2021
10:15am Private
10:20am Public
DWP's response to the coronavirus outbreak - Oral evidence 16 September 2021
10:20am
  • Will Quince MP (Minister for Welfare Delivery at Department for Work & Pensions)
  • Mims Davies MP (Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Employment at Department for Work and Pensions)
  • Neil Couling (Change Director General and Senior Responsible Owner Universal Credit at Department for Work and Pensions)
Room 5, Palace of Westminster
Wednesday 8 September 2021
9:45am Public
DWP's response to the coronavirus outbreak - Oral evidence 8 September 2021
9:45am
  • Vikki Waterman
  • Anthony Lynam
  • Caroline Rice
  • Gemma Widdowfield
  • Amina Nagawa
The Grimond Room, Portcullis House
Wednesday 3 February 2021
9:30am Public
DWP's response to the coronavirus outbreak - Oral evidence 3 February 2021
9:30am
  • Rt Hon Dr Thérèse Coffey
  • Peter Schofield (Permanent Secretary at Department for Work and Pensions)
Virtual meeting
Tuesday 2 February 2021
2:15pm Private
2:30pm Public
DWP's response to the coronavirus outbreak - Oral evidence 2 February 2021
2:30pm
  • Minesh Patel (Principal Policy Manager at Citizens Advice)
  • Laura Peters (Head of Advice and Information Services at Rethink Mental Illness)
  • Peter Tutton (Head of Policy, Research and Public Affairs at StepChange)
3:30pm
  • James Heywood (Head of Welfare and Opportunity at Centre for Policy Studies)
  • Professor Donald Hirsch (Director, Centre for Research in Social Policy at Loughborough University)
  • Iain Porter (Social Security Policy and Partnerships Manager at Joseph Rowntree Foundation)
Virtual meeting

Contact us

We can’t usually help you with an individual problem or a specific complaint.

  • Email: workpencom@parliament.uk
  • Phone: 020 7219 8976 (general enquiries) | 020 7219 1679 (media enquiries)
  • Address: Work and Pensions Committee | House of Commons | London | SW1A 0AA