Commons Sense

House of Commons · Westminster Hall

DWP Risk Review Team

26 January 2022 · 2 other contributors · 4,395 words

Opened by Kate Osamor Labour (Co-op) Edmonton and Winchmore Hill

Responding minister: David Rutley

Benefits & Welfare

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Kate Osamor raised concerns about dwp risk review team in Westminster Hall. A government minister responded.

Key points

  • Concerns raised about the Department for Work and Pensions' risk review team suspending universal credit payments for 29 Bulgarian constituents in Edmonton for up to 11 months without appeal rights.
  • The process has left single mothers in financial distress, relying on food banks and facing eviction.
  • The Minister acknowledged the department's responsibility to prevent fraud but highlighted the need to ensure benefits are paid out timely, noting the risk review team impacts less than 4% of universal credit claims since May 2020.

Key requests to Government

I urge the Minister to address this issue urgently by changing the 'guilty until proven innocent' approach, ensuring proper assistance for those affected, conducting an equalities impact assessment, providing adequate compensation for wrongly suspended claims, and increasing transparency in how cases are investigated.

How the debate unfolded

MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said.

Opened the debate

Kate Osamor Labour (Co-op) Edmonton and Winchmore Hill

I am concerned about the Department for Work and Pensions' risk review team, which has suspended universal credit payments for 29 Bulgarian constituents in Edmonton. These suspensions have lasted up to 11 months without any right of appeal or timeframe for resolution. The process has left many single mothers in financial distress, relying on food banks and facing eviction. Additionally, there is a lack of demographic data transparency, with cases predominantly affecting EU nationals like Bulgarians.

Other contributors (2)
  • Jim Shannon DUP Strangford

    Congratulates the hon. Lady on securing the debate and mentions that his constituents also come into his office seeking help with DWP issues, suggesting that when an application is refused, officers and staff should be available to assist applicants in getting the right information. Mr Jim Shannon asked if there is an opportunity to make extra officials available to help claimants who do not understand the process and need assistance in providing necessary evidence.

  • Stephen Timms Lab East Ham

    Mr Stephen Timms agreed with the Minister on the importance of tackling fraud in universal credit but criticised a case where someone's benefits were suspended for 11 months without support, which could ruin their life.

Government Response

David Rutley

I congratulate the hon. Member for Edmonton on securing this important debate and acknowledge the Department's responsibility to ensure benefits are paid out in a timely manner while combating fraud, which costs taxpayers £6.3 billion annually. The risk review team suspends suspect cases based on specific intelligence of potential fraud, impacting less than 4% of universal credit claims since May 2020. Cases are suspended as a last resort after an initial assessment that a person would not be entitled to the benefit they claimed, and nationality is not a factor in this process. The team engages with individuals to gather necessary documentation and lifts suspensions immediately upon confirming entitlement. Despite efforts, approximately 65% of suspected fraud cases do not contact the department for further information after suspension notices are issued. The minister highlighted that local welfare provision includes £500 million provided through the household support fund for essential costs such as heating and food bills. He also mentioned a total investment of £613 million over three years to combat fraud, including recruitment of 2,000 trained specialists.

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