Committees

DWP's response to the coronavirus outbreak

Inquiry

DWP's response to the coronavirus outbreak

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.

Reports, special reports and government responses

View all reports and responses
Fourth Report: The temporary increase in Universal Credit and Working Tax Credit
Inquiry DWP's response to the coronavirus outbreak
Committees Work and Pensions Committee
Open PDF
244KB
Open HTML
Opens in new window
HC 1193
Report
First Report: DWP's response to the coronavirus outbreak
Inquiry DWP's response to the coronavirus outbreak
Committees Work and Pensions Committee
Open PDF
1MB
Open HTML
Opens in new window
HC 178
Report
Response to this report
First Special Report - DWP’s response to the coronavirus outbreak: Government Response to the Committee’s First Report
Open PDF
200KB
Open HTML
Opens in new window
HC 732
Special Report
First Special Report - DWP’s response to the coronavirus outbreak: Government Response to the Committee’s First Report
Inquiry DWP's response to the coronavirus outbreak
Committees Work and Pensions Committee
Open PDF
200KB
Open HTML
Opens in new window
HC 732
Special Report

Oral evidence transcripts

View all oral evidence transcripts
2 February 2021
Inquiry DWP's response to the coronavirus outbreak
Witnesses Minesh Patel (Principal Policy Manager at Citizens Advice), Laura Peters (Head of Advice and Information Services at Rethink Mental Illness), and Peter Tutton (Head of Policy, Research and Public Affairs at StepChange)
Committees Work and Pensions Committee
Open PDF
273KB
Open HTML
192KB
Oral Evidence
2 February 2021
Inquiry DWP's response to the coronavirus outbreak
Witnesses 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), and Iain Porter (Social Security Policy and Partnerships Manager at Joseph Rowntree Foundation)
Committees Work and Pensions Committee
Open PDF
273KB
Open HTML
192KB
Oral Evidence
3 February 2021
Inquiry DWP's response to the coronavirus outbreak
Witnesses Peter Schofield (Permanent Secretary at Department for Work and Pensions), and Rt Hon Dr Thérèse Coffey (Secretary of State for Work and Pensions)
Committees Work and Pensions Committee
Open PDF
284KB
Open HTML
198KB
Oral Evidence

Written evidence

View all written evidence
SWP0089 - DWP's response to the coronavirus outbreak
Witnesses Welfare at a (Social) Distance Project, University of Leeds
Committees Work and Pensions Committee
Open PDF
185KB
Open HTML
280KB
Written Evidence
SWP0085 - DWP's response to the coronavirus outbreak
Witnesses Angela Madden
Committees Work and Pensions Committee
Open PDF
100KB
Open HTML
41KB
Written Evidence
SWP0083 - DWP's response to the coronavirus outbreak
Witnesses Macmillian Cancer Support
Committees Work and Pensions Committee
Open PDF
77KB
Open HTML
15KB
Written Evidence

Other publications

Correspondence
Committees exchange letters with government departments and others, often to request information or follow up on recommendations.
12 published