Select committee: Work and Pensions Committee
Conclusion 5
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)
The Department has said that whilst it does not have a statutory duty to safeguard vulnerable claimants, it recognises it has a responsibility to support them and does so through other means. We remain concerned, however, that current practice is insufficient, and that public trust is sorely damaged. We received no evidence from outside of the Department that introducing a statutory safeguarding duty was an unreasonable request. When we raised this with the previous Government, we were told that improvement could be achieved through investment in training, guidance, development and links to other Government Departments and organisations that have that duty. We welcome the new Secretary of State’s view that while laws alone do not change behaviour, they can help. 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. For example, in 2023- 24 there were 75 IPR referrals for internal investigations into cases that have been mishandled by DWP. This number remains stubbornly high, and if this is on the basis of addressing this issue through improved training, guidance and joint-working, then it is time for a new approach. A statutory safeguarding duty would help to drive and embed culture change in the Department, support the consistent delivery of safeguarding practices, and improve accountability should failures occur. The introduction of a duty, underpinned by practical actions, would also signal a change in the Government’s approach to safeguarding and help to rebuild the trust of claimants. (Conclusion, Paragraph 30)
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".