Recommendation 1

DWP provides essential services that act as a lifeline to millions of people each year, many of whom are vulnerable and require additional support to access them. For this reason, when mistakes are made, it is possible that the severest consequences can arise. Over several years there are known to have been hundreds of serious harms and deaths of claimants, many of which could have been prevented had DWP discharged its responsibilities more effectively. It is imperative that DWP learns from these mistakes so that opportunities to prevent deaths of and serious harm to people are not missed in the future. (Conclusion, Paragraph 17)