The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has confirmed that key reform proposals for the Personal Independence Payment (PIP) system are due for submission by September. This announcement follows a substantial review which found that the current disability benefits framework is “no longer fit for purpose”.
The interim Timms report, led by disability minister Sir Stephen Timms, described the PIP application process as often “dehumanising”, “soul destroying”, and “degrading” for many claimants. PIP is designed to assist individuals with long-term physical or mental health conditions or disabilities to cover everyday tasks and additional living costs.
Official figures from earlier this year revealed that over four million individuals in England and Wales are now claiming the primary disability benefit, marking a doubling of claimants since 2019. Specifically, the number of claimants diagnosed with autistic spectrum disorders has more than doubled in the past six years. Similarly, those with mixed anxiety and depressive disorders have also more than doubled, while individuals with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) have nearly quadrupled during this period.
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The review was initiated last year after the government retracted earlier reform plans concerning disability benefits, particularly those affecting mental health claimants, following opposition from Labour backbenchers. The review’s purpose has been to consult widely on PIP’s current operation, with the government committing to no benefit changes until the process concludes.
The final report, expected in autumn, will offer recommendations aimed at ensuring PIP is “fit and fair for the future”. To support this, the review’s co-chairs-Sir Stephen Timms MP, Sharon Brennan, and Dr Clenton Farquharson CBE-have announced the next phase involving development and testing of proposals for a future PIP system.
Between September and October, the Timms Review will organise a series of workshops with disabled individuals and those with long-term health conditions across the UK. These sessions will gather diverse perspectives to shape, refine, and test emerging recommendations for PIP reform.
According to the review team, “These workshops will bring together disabled people and those with long-term health conditions from a wide range of backgrounds and experiences to help shape, test and refine the Review’s emerging recommendations. We do not expect everyone to agree. Different experiences and perspectives are an important part of this process and will help us develop recommendations that are fair, balanced and grounded in real lives. The steering group is committed to providing clear feedback to each workshop, explaining transparently what was taken forward and what was not, and why.”
Co-hosted with selected deaf and disabled people’s organisations and charities in each region, the sessions aim to ensure inclusive engagement. The review team emphasises their commitment to transparent communication regarding how feedback influences the final proposals.
In the coming months, the steering group will continue refining its recommendations in collaboration with disabled people before submitting the final report to the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions later this autumn.