Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 26 October 2018 to Question 182841 on Social Security Benefits: Mental Health, what the safeguards are that were referred to in that Answer.

All colleagues within DWP are required to understand, comply with and take appropriate action when dealing with individuals who may need additional support to enable them to access DWP Benefits and use our services. Guidance is clearly signposted within Cross Benefit Operational Instructions and is also available to front line operational colleagues through training programmes, Mental Health First Aiders (within ESA product lines) and within Customer Service A-Z instructions that are available to Telephony officers and staff within front line operational processing centres within the Working age Directorate. In addition, where an officer of the DWP is concerned that a customer has declared or may declare an intention to harm or kill themselves, the DWP has a specific action plan in place across the Working Age Directorate that supports the member of staff to understand their role in dealing with such threats.