Benefit Safeguards - policy issues

Andyp5 Citizens Advice Bridport & District - 18 January 2024 01:23 PM

Subject: Work search requirements for clients (Hospital inpatients) detained under the Mental Health Act (equally applies to patients under voluntary admissions).

Now covered by Chaminda Jayanetti in the Guardian, featuring some robust comment from Daphne: https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2024/feb/10/seriously-ill-mental-health-inpatients-told-to-attend-jobcentre-or-risk-losing-benefits

Chaminda posted some extra details of the three cases here: https://twitter.com/cjayanetti/status/1756278791280767331

While the article focuses on those three cases it’s worth pointing out that the CAB submission to the WPSC states that this is an issue which is years old.

Also worth pointing out that the coroner in Terence Talbot’s inquest raised a concern about him having been required to attend in person although, in contrast to the cases discussed in the Guardian article, DWP appear not to have been aware of the severity of his ill health. https://www.judiciary.uk/prevention-of-future-death-reports/terence-talbot-prevention-of-future-deaths-report/

Transcript from the oral evidence session on the 7th: https://committees.parliament.uk/event/20617/formal-meeting-oral-evidence-session/

Some DNS stories, which relate to evidence provided to the WPSC:
https://www.disabilitynewsservice.com/dwp-secretly-weakened-guidance-on-suicides-one-year-after-public-pledge/
https://www.disabilitynewsservice.com/young-woman-took-her-own-life-hours-before-dwp-finally-agreed-long-delayed-pip-claim/
https://www.disabilitynewsservice.com/dwps-shocking-and-shameful-duty-of-care-refusal-must-be-addressed-mps-are-told/

The last of those picks up on the PHSO written evidence to the committee stating that the PHSO had “good reason to doubt the ability of DWP and its contracted agencies to consistently recognise, respond to and take full account of the vulnerabilities of some benefits claimants”.  The quote is from here: https://committees.parliament.uk/writtenevidence/125422/html/

Decision in the FOI case regarding the review referred to by the DWP Chief Psychologist at Errol Graham’s inquest.  I had been waiting for this to be published online but that seems to be taking some time due to difficulty coping with the redactions in the judgment, so thought I’d post here

Transcript for PHSO oral evidence to WPSC: https://committees.parliament.uk/event/20821/formal-meeting-oral-evidence-session/

Corerspondence regarding the safeguarding review referred to at Errol Graham’s inquest: https://committees.parliament.uk/publications/43712/documents/216932/default/

Owen_Stevens - 09 November 2023 06:17 PM

PMIU report https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/papers_7a_7b_from_the_221019_ucp?nocache=incoming-2465973#incoming-2465973

The covering letter is careful to note that “this report was never a statement of Government Policy, rather it reflected the observations of individuals in the Prime Minister’s Implementation Unit at the time.”

Part of an earlier PMIU report: https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/pmiu_reports#incoming-2585114

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/additional-support-for-dwp-customers-booklet

Unusual in that the document sets out DWP’s plans and aspirations

Transcript of the WPSC’s 26th March oral evidence session is now available: https://committees.parliament.uk/event/20626/formal-meeting-oral-evidence-session/

The standard of the oral evidence was often poor - witnesses seemed not to understand some of the questions.

LinkedIn post about using generative AI to identify signs of vulnerability in claimant records https://www.linkedin.com/posts/chrislyness_dwpinnovation-gamechanger-futureofwork-activity-7173376398672252929-g6mv

Owen_Stevens - 11 April 2024 10:43 AM

LinkedIn post about using generative AI to identify signs of vulnerability in claimant records https://www.linkedin.com/posts/chrislyness_dwpinnovation-gamechanger-futureofwork-activity-7173376398672252929-g6mv

And I quote:

a-cubed, powered by generative AI, is going to revolutionise the way work coaches operate. ???????? It will enable them to swiftly construct a comprehensive understanding of customers by summarising historical notes and journal messages, while also identifying genuine vulnerabilities. ???????? Plus, it will empower Work Coaches to access targeted answers from lengthy guidance and policy documents in real-time, streamlining the advice process.

Sounds great, what could possibly go wrong…..

On DWP use of data to identify vulnerability https://www.ukauthority.com/articles/dwp-explores-real-time-sharing-of-universal-credit-data/

https://ukconstitutionallaw.org/2024/04/16/joe-tomlinson-angela-paul-and-jed-meers-are-statutory-duties-to-protect-the-vulnerable-a-good-idea/

The WPSC have launched a survey of frontline DWP staff for their inquiry into safeguarding vulnerable claimants https://www.pcs.org.uk/news-events/news/members-survey-pcs-supporting-work-pensions-select-committee

https://www.rightsnet.org.uk/welfare-rights/news/item/work-and-pensions-committee-seeks-views-of-dwp-staff-to-inform-its-inquiry-into-departments-approach-to-safeguarding-vulnerable-claimants