Select committee calls for statutory duty on DWP to safeguard vulnerable claimants
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) should be subject to a new statutory duty to safeguard vulnerable claimants in a bid to fix its “deficient” safeguarding practices, according to the cross-party Work and Pensions Committee.
In a report, Safeguarding Vulnerable Claimants, the committee said the DWP should have a duty to refer vulnerable claimants to other agencies that have a duty of care, with the Secretary of State held accountable for the safeguarding duty.
The MPs said this new duty would underpin the number one priority of a shift in DWP culture.
The inquiry was opened by the predecessor Work and Pensions Committee in 23 July 2023, in response to concerns that inadequate safeguarding practices in DWP had contributed to claimants experiencing serious harm, including death by suicide and starvation.
After last year’s election, the new committee agreed to reopen it.
The report said: “We recognise that the introduction of a statutory duty would be a significant undertaking for the DWP, however, we are not convinced that the Government’s current approach is achieving its desired outcomes. Therefore, it is our view that the introduction of an overarching statutory duty is necessary to bring about the fundamental change that is required.”
Instead of a “piecemeal” approach, the committee said it wants to see a comprehensive, joined-up approach to safeguarding, which is part of policy development, implementation and review, and involves everyone in the department.
Other recommendations include inserting ‘victims of domestic abuse’ as a standalone category within the ‘Additional Support Area’ in Universal Credit, which helps DWP staff to identify potentially vulnerable claimants.
The potential health impacts of all new significant policies must be assessed by the DWP’s Chief Medical Advisor’s team as part of this cultural change, the report added.
Currently, such health assessments are not carried out consistently on all major policy changes.
Committee Chair Debbie Abrahams MP said, “That people continue to face harm after dealing with the DWP is a self-evident failure of safeguarding in the system. Until recently, getting people back into work to cut costs had been prioritised over providing support and care for vulnerable people. We heard evidence that the process itself of engaging with the DWP itself too often led to mental distress. Where this led to not being able to get financial support, many had paid the ultimate price.
“We’ve heard that whilst some have been lifted by the system when it works well, this can depend on claimants’ confidence that the system will help them. Too often, we heard their trust has been smashed by continual cost-cutting drives and an unhelpful media narrative. Many fear coming forward and expressing that they need additional support due to their circumstances and they fall deeper into vulnerability and despair as a result.”
This has to change, she said, adding that the committee was “heartened” by the evidence the Secretary of State gave last November.
A DWP spokesperson said: “This government is committed to protecting the people who use our services and fixing the broken welfare system we inherited so it works for those who need it.
“That’s why we are currently consulting on a new safeguarding approach, and our reforms will improve people’s lives and rebuild trust, by establishing an approach that genuinely supports vulnerable people.
“As we deliver our Plan for Change, we encourage people to have their voices heard through our consultation so we can build a safeguarding approach that works better for all.”
The DWP has said it is conducting a “thorough” review of its current safeguarding processes, ahead of developing and implementing a new departmental-wide approach.
