The Timms Review

Timms Review into PIP finds it is “not fit for purpose”

Update 15 August – register for workshops

As part of the review process, the government is holding workshops to consider what PIP should look like in future. These workshops on shaping recommendations are aimed mainly at disabled people and those with long-term health conditions, particularly those who have engaged with the Personal Independence Payment (PIP) system before. Attendees will be asked to discuss and help refine the Review’s draft recommendations. In recognition of their time, participants will receive a one-off payment plus reimbursement of reasonable travel costs.

Fifteen workshops will run across the country in September and October 2026 — nine in person and six online. Interest can be registered until 5pm on Friday 21 August 2026, via the ‘about you’ form (external link will open in a new browser tab or window).

Those chosen to take part will be notified by 4 September 2026, with details of which session they will attend.
 

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July 2026 – First full review exposes failures of PIP

• Millions of disabled people are being failed by a benefit that is no longer working, the first ever full review into Personal Independence Payment has found
• The largest co-produced review ever undertaken by government at a national level has heard from nearly 40,000 people and organisations across the country
• Publication of interim report finds that while PIP is a lifeline for many claimants, it can create barriers to work, physical activity and community life
• Report also reveals deep-rooted problems in the design and delivery of PIP with the assessment described as dehumanising and stressful

Click here to go down to responses to the Timms Review Interim Report
(external links below will open in a new browser tab or window)

Interim report draws on 38,000 responses

Personal Independence Payment is no longer fit for purpose and is failing to keep pace with how disability, health and work have changed over the past decade, the Timms Review has found.

The interim report, published on 9th July, comes as part of the first comprehensive review of PIP since the benefit was introduced in 2013 and sets out the evidence gathered so far to inform recommendations for reform due this autumn.

Drawing on findings from more than 38,000 responses to the Review’s Call for Evidence, alongside workshops and engagement with disabled people, their organisations and experts, it is one of the largest co-produced reviews delivered by the government.
 

PIP is valued, but assessment process condemned

The report has revealed that while PIP is widely valued as a cash benefit, it is not working as intended for disabled people or wider society. While many disabled people say that PIP is vital in helping them meet the extra costs of disability and participate in everyday life, others stated PIP creates barriers to participating fully in work, social and community life. This is particularly true for people with fluctuating conditions, less visible conditions or multiple conditions.

The process of claiming, under assessment criteria designed more than a decade ago, was viewed negatively by 90% of respondents, and described as at times “dehumanising”, “degrading” and “stressful” and the use of supporting evidence too often inconsistent. Only 5% of responses about the process were positive.

It also reports low levels of trust in the system and the need for it to be built back both for disabled people and those with long-term conditions, as well as for the taxpayer.
 

Society has changed, benefit does not meet expectations

PIP was introduced in 2013 to contribute towards the extra costs of disability and support independent living but has never been fully reviewed despite shifting trends in health and disability, and changes in wider society and the workplace.

The Review launched last October with the aim of making sure PIP is fair and fit for the future in a changing world and helps support disabled people to achieve better health, higher living standards and greater independence including through employment.

It will also take account of related work underway across the wider health and social care system, including the Milburn Review into the increase in the number of young people who are not in education, employment or training (NEET). Both reviews are due to conclude later this year, providing a foundation for effective and sustainable reform.
 

Timms Review moves to considering changes to PIP

The steering group will now continue to gather evidence through evidence sessions with experts and workshops around the country, while moving into the next phase: designing and testing recommendations for change, with the final recommendations due to be published this autumn.

Around 10 million working-age people report living with a disability – equivalent to 24% of the working-age population, compared with under 17% in 2013/14. There have been greater increases in the prevalence of disability among young people and a rise in mental health conditions. The Review must consider how PIP can remain sustainable within fixed financial limits and support future generations.
 

Call for Evidence highlighted failing assessment process

The report draws on findings from over 38,000 responses to a Call for Evidence, which describe an assessment process that fails to reflect real-life impacts, particularly for those with multiple or fluctuating conditions.

Yet the report also found that disabled people consistently describe PIP as a vital lifeline, allowing independence. Without it, many say they would become housebound, dependent on family, or in need of residential care.
 

Sharon Brennan, co-chair of the Review, said:

“Improving trust in the system – both from the public and those going through the system – is vital if PIP is to be fit and fair for the future. Of those that responded to the steering group’s Call for Evidence, over 90% described negative experiences of the process of claiming PIP, with concerns raised around all aspects of the process from application through to assessment and appeals.
“We are immensely grateful to the tens of thousands of people who have taken the time to share their lived experience and make a valuable contribution to this Review.
“We’ve heard loud and clear: PIP is highly valued as a benefit but is not fit for purpose. We are committed to making changes so that PIP can fulfil its purpose.”

Dr Clenton Farquharson CBE, co-chair of the Review, said:

“PIP should contribute to disabled people meeting the extra costs of disability and participate in everyday life. What we have heard through this Review is that, while PIP is a lifeline for many people, the system too often fails to understand the reality of people’s lives.
“Disabled people have told us about a process that can feel stressful, dehumanising and hard to navigate, especially for people with fluctuating conditions, less visible or multiple conditions. That matters, because a system that does not feel fair or humane will not command trust from disabled people or from the wider public.
“This Review is significant because disabled people, Disabled People’s Organisations and experts are helping and supporting to shape the work from the inside, not simply being consulted from the outside. As we move towards final recommendations, we need to be bold in our ambition, practical in our proposals, and focused on making PIP fair, trusted and fit for the future.”

Sir Stephen Timms, Minister for Social Security and Disability and co-chair of the Review, said:

“This interim report delivers a clear message: while PIP is widely valued as a benefit, it is not working as intended and needs fundamental change.
“Our work so far has been informed by a wide range of evidence, expertise, and insight to ensure we hear from as many disabled people as possible across the country, including through workshops, engagement and a call for evidence which attracted more than 38,000 responses.
“I’m grateful to my fellow co-chairs and the steering group for their intensive work and look forward to the Review’s final report being delivered in the autumn.”

Responses to the Interim Report of the Timms Review

Mo Stewart, research lead for the Preventable Harm Project, said:

There are many claims in the Timms Interim Review, whilst dismissing the obvious. …

The costs of disability benefits will continue to increase annually as the UK has an ageing population; new treatments for health conditions mean that improved medical care see people surviving much longer; the survival of more people with inherited or acquired impairments will continue to increase over time, as will those with mental health conditions which include many suffering with a government-induced public health crisis.

It is interesting to note the claim in the Interim Report that ‘language matters’, whilst overlooking the hostile DWP culture, negatively impacting on the disabled community, as exposed in the 2025 Work and Pensions Committee Report and constantly demonstrated by extreme and dangerous comments by Helen Whately MP, the Shadow Secretary of State for Work and Pensions and by the latest Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, Pat McFadden.

The Review justifies the removal of DLA due to the fact that ‘over 70% of people on DLA received an indefinite award,’ (item 14) whilst claiming that the introduction of PIP was designed to be ‘a more dynamic benefit’. Clearly, the adoption of PIP in 2013 disregarded permanent disabling conditions, which the Coalition administration (2010-15) dismissed as PIP was adopted as a cost-cutting measure, now justified by the Timms Review.

Gerard Crofton-Martin, Interim Chief Executive at SCIE, said:

“The Timms Review is an opportunity to ensure that PIP can support disabled people and people with long-term health conditions to live with independence, dignity, and choice.

“As its interim report makes clear, claiming PIP is often complex, stressful, and emotionally draining. It can be especially hard for people who experience mental distress, cognitive impairment, learning disability, fluctuating conditions, communication barriers, digital exclusion, trauma, poverty, or limited advocacy support.

“SCIE welcomes the report’s emphasis that people with lived experience must be kept at the heart of the conversation, with their voice and experiences valued and taken seriously. The co-production approach adopted by the Timms Review will ensure that future proposals for PIP are shaped by people’s experiences and underpinned by fairness, consistency, and transparency.

“We support a renewed focus on accessibility for people seeking PIP support as part of the review of the assessment process—away from emphasising narrow and restricted functional tasks. Assessment should take account of the real-life circumstances of disabled people and recognise the realities of life-long and long-term conditions, which cause people’s needs to fluctuate over time.

“We look forward to supporting the co-chairs and the wider steering group to drive meaningful change.”

Charlotte Gill, Head of Campaigns at the MS Society, said:

“Today’s interim report confirms what disabled people have been saying for many years – that the current PIP system is stressful and exhausting. We’ve been supporting people with MS to share their experiences as part of the Review, and they are clear in their call for a new approach based on fairness, dignity and respect.

“Over 150,000 people live with MS in the UK, with most diagnosed in their 30s and 40s. This is our chance to build a PIP system that acknowledges invisible and fluctuating symptoms, ends unnecessary reassessments, and works for everyone. But the next steps are crucial – and must continue involving and listening to disabled people. That’s the only way to make PIP fair and fit for the future.”

Sarah Hughes, CEO of Mind, said:

“The report echoes what we hear every day: that the PIP system is dehumanising, stressful and damages trust.

“PIP is a lifeline for people who, through no fault of their own, live with the additional costs of mental illness.

“So as this work progresses, it’s vital that, alongside improving the process, we also recognise that in a decent society we must support those facing additional need. This is a line-in-the sand moment for how we treat people, that improves lives for those who are unwell and reduces the impacts on families and communities.”

Jon Sparkes, OBE, Chief Executive of learning disability Mencap, said:

“It’s groundbreaking to see proper co-production in action. Disabled people are shaping the way that PIP works, and their lived experience is essential to making the right decisions on its future.

“This report shows clearly that that the current claims process is not fit for purpose and places an unfair administrative and emotional burden on people with a learning disability and their families. This chimes with our experience: the application process is not accessible, assessments end up being a needless fight and unnecessary re-assessments create distrust in the decision-making process.

“This approach should continue so that future recommendations are practical, deliverable and do not harm disabled people. I hope that the process of co-production will help to restore trust in the welfare systems that many of us rely on.”

First large-scale use of coproduction by UK government

The Call for Evidence forms just one part of a wider programme of engagement and evidence gathering. Last month, the group launched a toolkit to gather organisations’ insights on people’s experiences of PIP. Feedback from these sessions, combined with existing research, has helped ensure the report reflects a broad range of views and evidence.

The steering group is clear that co-production is central to the Review, putting disabled people at its heart. Co-production is a new undertaking for the UK government, and this is the first time it has been used on this scale.

It includes disabled people, representatives from Disabled People’s Organisations and experts – bringing together lived experience, policy knowledge and practical expertise to develop recommendations based on real lives.
 

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03/11/25 – The Timms Review: first full review of Personal Independence Payment

The government has launched the Timms Review, intended to ensure that Personal Independence Payment (PIP) is fair and fit for the future, and helps support disabled people to achieve better health, higher living standards and greater independence, including through employment.

PIP supports people with the extra costs of a disability or long-term health condition, and the government is committed to ensuring it remains a non-means-tested cash benefit, there for people in and out of work. However, despite shifting trends in disability and long-term health conditions, as well as changes in wider society and the workplace, PIP has never been fully reviewed.

To ensure lived experience is at the heart of its work, the government has announced that the Review will be co-produced with disabled people, the organisations that represent them, carers, clinicians, experts, Members of Parliament and other stakeholders.
 

Co-chairs to oversee steering group

The Review will be co-chaired by Sir Stephen Timms, Minister for Social Security and Disability, Dr Clenton Farquharson CBE, Associate Director at Think Local Act Personal, and Sharon Brennan, previously Director of Policy and External Affairs at National Voices. The co-chairs will oversee a steering group which will jointly lead the Review.

If you are interested in being part of the steering group, you can submit an expression of interest here (external link will open in a new browser tab or window). Applications close on 30th November.
 

Co-production welcomed by Social Care Institute for Excellence

Kathryn Marsden OBE, Chief Executive of SCIE, said:

“The Timms Review is an opportunity to ensure that PIP can support disabled people and people with long-term health conditions to live with independence, dignity and choice. PIP must be underpinned by the principles of fairness and equality, with assessment and decision-making processes that are consistent and transparent.
“SCIE welcomes the appointment of Dr Clenton Farquharson CBE and Sharon Brennan to the Review. Reform can’t be effective if it’s removed from the realities of people with lived experiences; it must instead recognise and respect their invaluable expertise and place them at the very centre of all conversations and decisions.
“At SCIE, co-production with people with lived experience informs all that we do. We look forward to supporting the co-chairs and the wider steering group to drive meaningful change.”

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