Source · Select Committees · Work and Pensions Committee
1st Report – Safeguarding Vulnerable Claimants
Work and Pensions Committee
HC 402
Published 15 May 2025
Recommendations
36
Not Addressed
Devise a systematic way to record and annually publish serious harms and deaths
Recommendation
We recommend the Department work with its Chief Medical Advisor, DWP’s Caldicott Guardian, and coroners to devise a way to record more systematically all cases of serious harms and deaths where the individual affected was in receipt of working-age benefits. …
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Government Response Summary
The government noted the Chief Medical Advisor's existing involvement in public Coroner reports and stated it is reviewing and exploring how to strengthen their roles, and how the Caldicott Guardian will be included in ethical data considerations, but did not commit to systematically recording or annually publishing all cases of serious harms and deaths.
Department for Work and Pensions
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Conclusions (2)
2
Conclusion
Not Addressed
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 …
Government Response Summary
The government's response discusses its openness to a statutory safeguarding duty, consultation findings, and a future statement on DWP's new safeguarding approach, without directly addressing the Committee's conclusion about the ongoing EHRC investigation or its decision to defer recommendations.
31
Conclusion
Not Addressed
Effective collaboration between partners is essential to understand the complex needs of some claimants, to understand if they are at risk, and to identify if any interventions are required to assure their safety. The Department has taken some steps to improve the way it works with other agencies, led by …
Government Response Summary
The government states it will continue to strengthen partnerships with Safeguarding Adult Boards and increase DWP representation (currently 80%), and plans to publish the joint Memorandum of Understanding. However, it does not directly address the committee's finding that the department does not consistently refer vulnerable claimants to appropriate agencies.