The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has appointed Dr Sam Royston to the Social Security Advisory Committee (SSAC). Sam has been appointed to serve a five-year term, starting on 1 July 2026.
Confirming the appointment, DWP Minister of Lords, Baroness Sherlock OBE, said
“I am delighted to welcome Sam to the Committee. He brings extensive experience in research and policy, with a strong focus on how social security policy and its delivery affect people’s lives. This will add further depth to SSAC’s advice.”
Dr Stephen Brien, Chair of SSAC, added
“Sam is a very welcome addition to the team, and I am delighted that the Committee will be able to benefit from his considerable experience. The combination and breadth of the research, policy and practical insight Sam will bring will be valuable in all aspects of our work, especially when we examine how aspects of the Department’s policies operate in practice.”
The Department has also confirmed the reappointments of existing members Daphne Hall and Dr Suzy Walton, extending their membership to 31 December 2031.
About the Committee
Established in 1980, the Social Security Advisory Committee is an independent statutory body. It provides advice to the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions on proposals for the amendment of secondary legislation and on general social security matters.
The Commissioner for Public Appointments regulates all appointments made to SSAC by the Secretary of State. All such appointments are made in accordance with the Governance Code for Public Appointments.
SSAC members receive a daily fee of £256.80, for a time commitment of 2 to 3 days a month.
About the appointees
Dr Sam Royston
Sam is the Executive Director of Research and Policy at Marie Curie. He was previously Policy Director at The Children’s Society, and is also a former chair of the End Child Poverty coalition. Prior to that, Sam completed his PhD in the Social Policy department at the University of York, at which point he was also an adviser at a Citizens Advice Bureau. He is also author of the book “Broken Benefits What’s gone wrong with welfare reform”, and a trustee of the charity Turn2Us.
Sam has been appointed from 1 July 2026 to 30 June 2031.
Daphne Hall
Daphne is an editor at Rightsnet and is the Vice Chair of the National Association of Welfare Rights Advisers. Previously, Daphne spent 25 years working as a frontline adviser for Bristol City Council, Springfield Psychiatric Hospital and Citizens Advice. For many years, she was also a contributing author to Child Poverty Action Group’s Welfare Benefits and Tax Credits Handbook, and to Disability Rights UK’s Disability Rights Handbook. Daphne has been reappointed from 1 January 2027 to 31 December 2031.
Dr Suzy Walton
Suzy Walton is a chartered director, occupational psychologist, and scientist. As a former senior civil servant, she has worked in the Cabinet Office and the Ministry of Defence. She was awarded a PhD for research into military suicide. Her current roles include Vice-President of Combat Stress, disciplinary panel member of the Judicial Conduct Investigations Office (Ministry of Justice), a member of the Independent Reconfiguration Panel (Department of Health) and a member of the Security Vetting Appeals Panel (Cabinet Office). Suzy has sat on multiple boards including as a non-executive director/lay member on multiple government committees.
Suzy has been reappointed from 1 January 2027 to 31 December 2031.
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