We want a statutory public inquiry under the Inquiries Act 2005 into the Department for Work and Pensions’ (DWP) handling of Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) terminations and related decisions during the COVID-19 pandemic and other exceptional circumstances.
We believe that some claimants, such as those stranded abroad or unable to comply with procedural requirements due to public health restrictions, were unfairly penalised and that the DWP’s actions may have breached equality duties and caused serious harm to disabled and vulnerable people. We believe a statutory public inquiry is vital to hold authorities accountable and ensure future protections for disabled and vulnerable claimants.