Guidance
Current DWP research being undertaken by external organisations
Check a list of live research being conducted by research organisations for the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP).
If you have been contacted to take part in research by an external research organisation on behalf of DWP, check this list to verify that the contact is genuine.
Check that the fieldwork dates, title and description match the information you received when you were approached.
List of current fieldwork
Current research
| Fieldwork dates | Research project | Description |
|---|---|---|
| June 2026 to October 2026 | IFF Research/Behavioural Insights Team (BIT) – Research to Maximise Digital Channel Uptake | You may be contacted to take part in this research and invited to join a workshop, either online or in-person. The research will explore people’s experiences of using online DWP services and identify and develop ideas that can support digital channel usage. |
| July 2026 to October 2026 | Ipsos – Self-employed peoples’ perspectives on pension saving | You may be contacted by Ipsos to take part in this research. The research aims to hear your perspectives and help develop solutions for the self-employed to support pension saving. |
| July 2026 to October 2026 | NatCen – The Work Aspirations of PIP Customers: Qualitative Research | You may be contacted by NatCen to take part in this research. The aim is to learn more about the work aspirations, circumstances and needs of PIP customers. |
| July 2026 to October 2026 | Verian – Help to Claim Evaluation | You may be contacted to take part in this research. The aim is to understand experiences of using Help to Claim to make a claim for Universal Credit. |
| August 2026 to October 2026 | Ipsos – Food Support survey and interviews | You may be contacted by Ipsos to take part in this research. The aim of this research is to understand how households receiving Universal Credit experience access to food, what food support they get, and any challenges they might face. |
| September 2026 to October 2026 | NatCen - PIP customers reporting changes of circumstance | You may be contacted by NatCen to take part in the research. The aim is to understand how best to encourage PIP customers to report changes in circumstances that could affect their PIP award. |
| March 2026 to November 2026 | Ipsos UK – Disability Living Allowance for children (DLAc) Areas of extra cost and additional need | The aim is to learn more about the areas of extra costs and additional need for families claiming DLAc. |
| June 2026 to November 2026 | Verian – Phase 1 Jobs Guarantee Process Evaluation | You may be contacted to take part in this research. The aim is to understand how the Phase 1 Jobs Guarantee delivery model is working in practice. |
| September 2026 to November 2026 | Verian – Removal of the 2-child limit evaluation - Early qualitative insights | You may be contacted by Verian to take part in this research. The aim of the research is to gather insight on the experience of removal of the 2-child limit on families. |
| August 2026 to December 2026 | Verian – Monitoring the impact of the Local Housing Allowance (LHA) | You may be contacted to take part in the research. The aim is to better understand the impact of Local Housing Allowance (LHA) rates on households in receipt of housing support and landlords. |
| October 2026 to December 2026 | Verian – UK Pension Research | You may be contacted to take part in this research. The research aims to understand the journey to claiming the state pension, including when and how people choose to start claiming once eligible. |
| November 2026 to December 2026 | IFF Research – Customer Experience Survey | You may be contacted by IFF Research to take part in a survey. The aim of the research is to find out customers’ experiences and opinions of interacting with the DWP. The research will help guide how DWP engages with customers in the future. |
| April 2026 to March 2027 | ONS/NatCen/NISRA – Family Resources Survey (FRS) | You may be contacted to take part in a survey. The aim of the research is to find out about participants’ living standards and circumstances, to help government develop and monitor policies. You can find more information here: Family Resources Survey: information for people taking part. |
| November 2026 to March 2027 | Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) Reform Evaluation | The main purpose of the study is to provide the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) with evidence on the impacts of the Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) reforms that came into effect in April 2026. This stage of the research includes a large-scale survey and qualitative interviews to understand employers’ experiences of SSP. |
| October 2026 to April 2027 | IFF – Attendance Allowance research to understand recipient experiences | This multi-strand research aims to understand people’s experiences of applying for and receiving Attendance Allowance. The research involves a survey of around 1,000 respondents and around 50 in-depth interviews. |
| April 2025 to May 2027 | IFF Research – Local Support Employment Evaluation | You may be contacted by IFF Research to take part in an interview. The aim of the research is to find out about participants’ experiences of receiving support from Local Authorities through the Local Supported Employment (LSE) programme. |
| October 2025 to September 2027 | IFF – Restart Customer Satisfaction | You may be contacted by IFF Research to take part in a survey. The aim of the research is to gain insight into the overall satisfaction levels of customers on the Restart Scheme. |
| April 2025 to August 2029 | Opinion Research Services Ltd – Functional Assessment Service Customer Satisfaction Survey | You may be contacted to take part in a 15-minute survey. The aim of the research is to find out about participants’ experiences with the Health Assessment Advisory Service. |