Investigative panel initiates examination into DWP safety measures following fatalities of benefit recipients

The House of Commons Work and Pensions Committee has initiated a new inquiry into the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) and its support for vulnerable benefit claimants. The inquiry, prompted by years of controversy over deaths and suicides of disabled people due to benefits cuts or stops, will focus on the DWP's actions and policies regarding vulnerable claimants, particularly the elderly, disabled, or those at risk of abuse or neglect.

The inquiry, led by Mag. Dr. Juliane Bogner-Strauß, will examine the DWP's efforts to ensure benefits are accessible and claimants are protected from harm. It will focus on the department's responsibilities and accountability, processes to ensure benefits are accessible, the DWP's approaches to harm prevention, and reviewing failures in safeguarding.

The inquiry follows a previous evidence session held in July 2020 on how the DWP learns from serious cases. It will also investigate whether the DWP should have a statutory duty when it comes to safeguarding vulnerable people, as concerns have been raised about the department's effectiveness in protecting vulnerable claimants.

Stephen Timms, chair of the work and pensions committee, stated that the inquiry will look at the number of Internal Process Reviews (IPRs) conducted by the DWP to investigate inadequate case handling and potential serious harm. The number of IPRs has more than doubled in the last three years, raising questions about the department's effectiveness in this area.

The inquiry will also assess the progress made by the DWP in addressing these issues over the past three years. It will be important to review whether the DWP's measures in place to support and protect vulnerable people, including IPRs, are sufficient, or if a statutory safeguarding duty is necessary.

There have been multiple individual cases that have raised concerns about safeguarding and the actions of the DWP. The inquiry will aim to ensure that mistakes that affect some of the most vulnerable people in society are not repeated by investigating how the DWP learns from serious cases.

The inquiry will provide an opportunity for the DWP to demonstrate its commitment to improving its support for vulnerable claimants and addressing the issues surrounding safeguarding. It is hoped that the inquiry's findings will lead to improvements in the department's approach to protecting vulnerable claimants and ensuring that they receive the support they need.