Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to the Answer of 21 July 2016 to Question 43098, what steps officials of his Department are required to take when they are satisfied that a customer faces clear and significant risks to their welfare or safety.

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has an established approach to identifying and providing an appropriate level of support to all its vulnerable customers, including those with mental health conditions. DWP recognises any “individual who is identified as having complex needs and/or requires additional support to enable them to access DWP benefits and use our services” as being vulnerable. DWP uses its records to ensure that where individuals are identified as being vulnerable we take all reasonable steps to mitigate risks. This approach is adopted at all points of contact with the customer.

When DWP staff are concerned that the risk to the individual’s welfare or safety is significant and immediate they are explicitly empowered to take all steps felt necessary to address these risks.

Where the risk is not believed to be significant or immediate the established approach of working with the individual should be followed and, where necessary, contact made with relevant organisations to provide the appropriate levels of support.