An investigation revealed that the DWP failed to inform thousands of pensioners of crucial changes to their benefits – notably in the case of 82-year-old Adrian Furnival – resulting in severe financial hardship and distress. The Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman criticized the department for nearly decade-long communication delays and called for compensation for affected individuals.

The Department for Work and Pensions has faced criticism for failing to promptly release accessible formats of its welfare reform proposals, leaving blind and disabled citizens unable to fully access critical information. This delay, highlighted by Lib Dem MP Steve Darling and disability equality advocates, underscores concerns over neglecting the needs of marginalized groups.

The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) has launched a limited inquiry into alleged unlawful practices by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) regarding its handling of disabled benefit claimants. The investigation, focusing on actions since January 2021 – including failure to sign a section 23 agreement and shortcomings in the work capability and personal independence payment assessments – raises serious concerns over the department’s treatment of vulnerable individuals.

The Department for Work and Pensions is under investigation by the Equality and Human Rights Commission for its handling of disabled benefit claimants, with critics alleging that its 'fit to work' assessments have led to significant harm and even deaths among vulnerable individuals.

On May 22, 2024, the EHRC launched an investigation into the Department for Work and Pensions for potentially failing to make reasonable adjustments during health assessments, a move that may have led to unlawful discrimination against disabled individuals. The agency is examining claims including the tragic case of Errol Graham.

The Department for Work and Pensions announced plans to deploy an AI tool across Jobcentres to analyze welfare claim letters and identify vulnerable individuals, a move that has raised alarms among advocates who warn of potential algorithmic biases, dehumanization of services, and heightened risks for marginalized populations.

The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) has launched an official investigation into the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) over its handling of benefit claimants with disabilities. The probe follows allegations that the department may have violated equality law in its treatment of individuals with learning disabilities and long‐term mental health conditions, a situation that has raised significant concerns regarding the ethical obligation to protect vulnerable populations. The investigation comes after the EHRC had previously drawn up a Section 23 agreement with the DWP, which was never signed.

The Department for Work and Pensions' annual report outlines significant achievements in expanding welfare services, boosting employment support initiatives, and enhancing financial resilience measures. These actions reflect a strong commitment to social justice and support for marginalized communities.

The DWP's 2022-23 Annual Report details extensive counter-fraud initiatives, including a large-scale Targeted Case Reviews (TCR) project, significant investments in counter-fraud staffing and advanced data analytics, alongside an outsourcing plan for 40% of TCR reviews. The report highlights persistent issues such as high levels of benefit overpayments, systemic underpayments, and challenges in quality control which may adversely affect vulnerable claimants.

The report describes DWP’s early-stage implementation of machine learning algorithms to flag potentially fraudulent Universal Credit claims. While intended to cut fraud, the lack of transparency in algorithmic decision-making and inconclusive bias assessments have raised concerns about potential unfair treatment of vulnerable claimants.

The Department for Work and Pensions has committed £70m to enhance its use of machine learning and analytics to detect fraud within the benefits system. While the initiative is intended to generate significant savings, it raises concerns over algorithmic bias that may unfairly target vulnerable groups, and the department’s limited transparency on fairness assessments.

The Equality and Human Rights Commission ordered the Department for Work and Pensions to create a legally-binding action plan aimed at overhauling its treatment of disabled and mentally ill benefit claimants following a series of suicides.