2 May 2019

Responses to freedom of information requests show DWP and assessors fail to refer claimants at risk of harm to social services.

What: Responses to freedom of information requests submitted by disabled campaigner Mike Owen show that DWP and its private sector contractors have been failing for years to alert local authorities to concerns about benefit claimants whose safety was at risk. Maximus – which carries out WCAs – failed to make a single safeguarding referral to any social services departments, and Atos and Capita – which both assess claimants for PIP – made just two referrals each over three years.

Why significant: Further evidence of safeguarding failures within DWP.