Committees

Safeguarding vulnerable claimants

Inquiry

The predecessor Work and Pensions Committee opened an inquiry into safeguarding vulnerable claimants in July 2023, to examine how DWP supports vulnerable benefit claimants and whether its approach to safeguarding needs to change.

There are many people who claim benefits from DWP who are considered vulnerable and in need of special care, support or protection to ensure that they are able to access the public services they require from the Department. Although DWP implements a number of safeguarding processes to help provide additional support to these people, DWP does not currently have a statutory duty to safeguard the wellbeing of vulnerable claimants.

Over the three years from July 2019 to July 2022 the number of Internal Process Reviews (IPRs)—DWP’s internal investigations into allegations of DWP case handling which have fallen short of expected standards, with a severe negative impact on a claimant—has more than doubled. 140 IPRs were conducted into claimant deaths over this period compared with 64 reviews carried out between 2016 and 2019.

Inquiry call for evidence

In light of the seriousness of this subject, we have decided to formally reopen our inquiry into safeguarding vulnerable claimants. We will continue our evaluation of DWP’s approach to safeguarding, and seek to understand how the new Government intends to rise to the challenge of ensuring it supports those who find it difficult to interact with the benefit system. 

We understand that the issues raised in this work may be sensitive or upsetting. In addition to contacting your G.P., the following organisations may be able to offer support or further information: 

Samaritans—General support for everyone. Call 116 123 - 24 hours a day, every day, or email jo@samaritans.org

Mind—for information, advice, and support for anyone experiencing a mental health problem. Call 0300 123 3393.

Citizens Advice—For independent, free advice provided by a network of charities online, over the phone and in person on a wide variety of issues including benefits, work, debt, housing, family and immigration. Their Adviceline is available 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday, by calling 0800 144 8848 (England) or 0800 702 2020 (Wales)

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Easy Read report

This inquiry is no longer accepting evidence

The deadline for submissions was 11:58pm on 13 October 2023.

Upcoming events

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Past events

Wednesday 12 February 2025
9:00am Public
Safeguarding vulnerable claimants - Oral evidence 12 February 2025
9:00am
  • Sir Stephen Timms MP (Minister for Social Security and Disability at Department for Work and Pensions)
  • Elizabeth Fairburn (Customer Experience Director at Department for Work and Pensions)
  • Dr Gail Allsopp (Chief Medical Advisor at Department for Work and Pensions)
  • Neil Couling (Director General, Fraud, Disability and Health and Senior Responsible Owner Universal Credit at Department for Work and Pensions)
The Thatcher Room, Portcullis House
Wednesday 8 January 2025
9:15am Private
9:30am Public
Safeguarding vulnerable claimants - Oral evidence 8 January 2025
9:30am
  • Sophie Francis-Cansfield (Head of Policy at Women’s Aid)
  • Minesh Patel (Associate Director of Policy and Influencing at Mind)
  • Tim Nicholls (Assistant Director of Policy, Research and Strategy at National Autistic Society)
  • Carri Swann (Welfare Rights Adviser at Child Poverty Action Group)
  • Dr Gail Allsopp
10:30am
  • Dr Gail Allsopp (Chief Medical Advisor at Department for Work and Pensions)
11:00am
  • Dr Antonia Dietmann (DWP Chief Psychologist & Head of Profession for Occupational Psychology at Department for Work and Pensions)
Room 15, Palace of Westminster
Tuesday 26 March 2024
9:25am Public
Safeguarding vulnerable claimants - Oral evidence 26 March 2024
9:25am
  • Mims Davies MP (Minister for Disabled People, Health and Work at Department for Work and Pensions)
  • The Viscount Younger of Leckie (Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at Department for Work and Pensions)
  • Elizabeth Fairburn (Customer Experience Director at Department for Work and Pensions)
  • Preeta Ramachandran (Southern Area Director, Work and Health Services at Department for Work and Pensions)
The Wilson Room, Portcullis House
Wednesday 28 February 2024
9:25am Public
Safeguarding vulnerable claimants - Oral evidence 28 February 2024
9:25am
  • Rob Behrens (Ombudsman at Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman)
  • Rebecca Hilsenrath (CEO at Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman)
Room 8, Palace of Westminster

Contact us

We receive a significant number of emails each day. All requests and invitations are considered but we do not respond directly to everyone. Please be aware, the committee does not look at individual cases or specific complaints.