Select committee: Work and Pensions Committee
Conclusion 2
1st Report – Safeguarding Vulnerable Claimants
Published 15 May 2025
Addressed to Department for Work and Pensions
Work and Pensions Committee Safeguarding vulnerable claimants All items in this report Report on parliament.uk ↗ Inquiry on parliament.uk ↗
Conclusion (the committee's words)
We note that in April 2022, the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) and DWP were working to improve DWP’s treatment of disabled benefit claimants in accordance with a legally binding section 23 agreement. We further note that the EHRC launched a formal investigation into DWP in May 2024, which is considering if DWP failed to make reasonable adjustments for disabled people with learning disabilities or long-term mental health conditions during health assessment determinations, and that as of April 2025, this investigation is ongoing. It is essential that the investigation be allowed to run its course, and at this point we do not wish to make any conclusions and recommendations that anticipate findings of that investigation. However, once those findings have been made, this may be an issue that the Committee wishes to scrutinise further. (Conclusion, Paragraph 18)
From: Work and Pensions Committee, 1st Report – Safeguarding Vulnerable Claimants (HC 402), 15 May 2025
Government response
The government responded to the whole report on 22 July 2025 (deadline 15 July 2025).
Summary written by Accountability Index from the government's response. It is not the government's own words.The Government has responded in full only to those recommendations outside the scope of the consultation on a new safeguarding approach, with the others being "considered alongside the consultation", the outcome of which "will be published in the Autumn".
- On a statutory safeguarding duty, the Government is "open to" it. The Secretary of State "will make a statement to the House in the Autumn" setting out DWP's new approach to safeguarding.
- It does not intend to publish the Chief Medical Advisor's team advice on the Pathways to Work changes, saying it remains advice to the Secretary of State and that "a single document does not exist".
- On Help to Claim, DWP states it "has found no shortfall" in support following the transition, citing jobcentre support and the Visiting Service.
- On the PHSO's powers, DWP "acknowledges" the recommendation but says it lacks authority to make such changes. Any change "would require primary legislation" and is "a matter for Parliament".