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Select committee: Work and Pensions Committee

3rd Special Report - Safeguarding Vulnerable Claimants: Government response

Published 22 July 2025

Work and Pensions Committee Safeguarding vulnerable claimants Report on parliament.uk ↗

At a glance

The government's response

This document responds to 1st Report – Safeguarding Vulnerable Claimants.

This is the government's response, published 22 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".

Read the government's response ↗ Report an error

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