What's going on with the Timms Review of PIP? Here's how to have your say

Disability and social security minister Sir Stephen Timms is reviewing the assessment process for personal independence payment (PIP), the benefit which helps millions of working-age people cover the extra costs of having a disability.

The government faced significant controversy last year over plans for PIP cuts, which it was forced to backtrack on after backlash from Labour MPs.

Any changes to PIP were paused until the Timms Review of PIP has reached a conclusion, with an interim report expected to be published in the coming months.

Read more:

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• Disabled people appointed to co-produce Timms review of PIP: ‘This opportunity cannot be wasted’

The minister’s review, which is being co-produced alongside a group of people with disabilities, will impact the future of the disability benefits.

What stage is the Timms Review at now?

A call for evidence for the Timms Review closed on 28 May, having received 38,000 responses. But there is still a chance for disabled people and the organisations which support them to have their say.

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has revealed that it is expanding its engagement to hear from more disabled people.

It has launched new resources to help organisations run workshops with disabled people and those with health conditions. These will cover three key themes: what they use PIP for, what it is like to apply for PIP, and how decisions are made.

The responses to these will help shape the review further.

Timms said: “Hearing from disabled people across the UK is vitally important to inform the review. That is why we are co-producing this review with disabled people every step of the way – to make sure that PIP is truly fair and fit for the future.  

“I encourage any organisation that is able to host a workshop to do so, because we need to hear the views and lived experience of as many disabled people as possible.”

All materials are accessible for disabled people and available to download through gov.uk and organisations can submit insights from their workshops until 17 July. Organisations can also sign up for information sessions on how to conduct a workshop in a box taking place on 10 and 16 June.

They are designed primarily for disabled people and those with long-term health conditions, but organisations are encouraged to adapt the materials for carers, advisors and other people with knowledge and experience of PIP.

Timms review co-chair Sharon Brennan said: “It is vital to the success of the review that we hear from as many people as possible about their thoughts on PIP, especially those whose voices are less heard such as those from marginalised communities or who are do not feel comfortable engaging with government-led consultations.

“We hope this new engagement method allows people to have conversations that matter with the organisations that they most trust so their lived experiences can shape the outcomes of our review.”

What else is happening with the Timms review?

The review will also analyse existing data and research around PIP, carry out quantitative survey research, hear evidence from experts and run deliberative events.

The DWP has appointed a steering group to support Timms with the review, almost all 12 of whom have lived-experience of disability or long-term health conditions. You can read about the group here.

An interim report will be published in the coming months, providing a fuller update on the steering group’s work to date.

Why does the Timms Review of PIP matter?

The Timms Review of PIP matters because it will inform any future changes which are made to the disability benefit.

Around four million people in the UK currently receive PIP, which is designed to help with extra living costs if you have a long-term physical or mental health condition or disability.

Big Issue has heard from hundreds of people who have struggled through the PIP assessment process, with some describing how it has caused “psychological trauma” and has harmed their health further.

One woman said she had a second stroke after the DWP stopped her disability benefits. A mother described how her son took his own life over fears that his disability benefits would be taken away.

So the Timms Review matters – because what happens with PIP could have a huge impact on people’s lives.

Disability benefits claimants have called for compassion and support instead of cuts to their benefits, and their hope is that the Timms Review will reach this conclusion too.

There are more specific asks too. For example, Marie Curie is calling for the Timms Review to stop people with terminal illness having to be reassessed for PIP.

Becca Stacy, Marie Curie’s senior policy manager for financial security, recently wrote for the Big Issue: “As Sir Stephen considers the evidence, we urge him to remember the people at the heart of this debate: those trying to live as well as they can, for as long as they can, with the people they love. 

“He now has the chance to ease their suffering in this one area – a responsibility he must take seriously to ensure that everyone has the chance to live with greater dignity and respect.”

Meanwhile, the MS Society is calling for four key changes to the PIP system. They want to see an end to compulsory reassessments and for the system to stop ignoring fluctuating and invisible systems. They’re calling for an end to an arbitrary 20-metre rule that means people only qualify for the higher level of mobility support if they’re unable to walk 20 metres unaided.

They would also like to see the Westminster government follow Scotland’s lead with its PIP counterpart, the adult disability payment (ADP), a system it claims is “built on the principals of fairness, dignity and respect”.

Ross Barrett, policy manager at the MS Society, told Big Issue: “The DWP must follow this lead and embed these values across the PIP system.

“In practice this could mean greater investment in the assessment system, so assessors are best supported to conduct timely, supportive and respectful conversations, and open access to all notes and reports throughout the process.

“Only by adopting this approach can PIP deliver on its intended purpose – to support disabled people to live more independent lives.”

Do you have a story to tell or opinions to share about this? Get in touch and tell us more. 

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