The Commission on Social Security and participatory research during the pandemic : new context, abiding challenges

In this chapter we examine a project called the Commission on Social Security, led by Experts by Experience (hereafter, ‘the Commission’). The aim of the project is to produce a White Paper style document on social security, setting out policy proposals for a better benefits system. The project takes a ground-breaking approach with all the Commissioners being people with lived experience of the social security system i.e. current or recent benefit claimants (referred to as ‘Experts by Experience’, the term having been decided on by the people with lived experience who became involved in the project).