Source · Select Committees · Work and Pensions Committee
Recommendation 5
5
Deferred
Clarify changes to benefit compliance monitoring and its integration into Jobcentre appointments.
Recommendation
In its response to this report, DWP should clarify what changes it is making to the system for monitoring compliance with benefit conditions. In particular, it should set out how it will move benefit monitoring “from the foreground to the background” of Jobcentre appointments. (Recommendation, Paragraph 31)
Government Response Summary
The government states that further details on changes to benefit monitoring will be provided in due course, following consideration of consultation findings and the conclusion of a departmental safeguarding review currently underway.
Government Response
Deferred
HM Government
Deferred
The government has recently completed the consultation on the Pathways to Work: Reforming Benefits and Support to Get Britain Working Green Paper, which included a question on the future of DWP’s safeguarding approach, among a wider set of reforms. Further detail on this work will be provided in due course, following the consideration of the consultation findings and on conclusion of the department’s current safeguarding review, setting out DWP’s new approach to safeguarding. The government recognises the value of assessing the potential health impacts on customers of all policy changes being undertaken jointly, with the Chief Medical Advisor working alongside policy officials to determine the relevance and appropriateness of input. Work is underway to ensure safeguarding is considered in both policy development and operational change processes. This forms part of a wider departmental safeguarding approach currently in development, with further updates to follow in due course.