Ministers have announced that Personal Independence Payment is not fit for purpose following the inaugural comprehensive assessment of the disability benefit since its launch more than ten years ago.

The preliminary conclusions of the independent Timms Review indicate that the existing framework, published today, July 9, is letting down numerous disabled individuals, with thousands characterising the claims procedure as dehumanising, degrading and stressful.

The review, commissioned by the Department for Work and Pensions, collected input from over 38,000 individuals and bodies, rendering it among the most extensive examinations of disability benefits ever undertaken by the state.

Although the report establishes that PIP continues to serve as an essential source of financial support for countless people, it states that the benefit has not adapted to shifts in disability, health and employment patterns since its 2013 introduction.

Why the review considers PIP is falling short

The report indicates that approximately 90% of participants offered unfavourable assessments of the claims procedure, while merely 5% provided favourable responses.

Numerous respondents stated that assessments do not accurately represent the day-to-day experience of managing variable conditions, hidden disabilities or several health issues simultaneously.

The review also discovered that the present framework can obstruct access to work, physical pursuits and involvement in routine community activities.

Roughly 10 million working-age individuals in the UK now have a disability, compared with under 17% of the population when PIP was first introduced, leading to demands for benefit modernisation.

Review: PIP is highly valued but not fit for purpose

Sharon Brennan, co-chair of the Review, said that 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.

Brennan added that the review team is 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 the review.

She emphasised that the message has been heard loud and clear: PIP is highly valued as a benefit but is not fit for purpose, and the review team is committed to making changes so that PIP can fulfil its purpose.

Dr Clenton Farquharson CBE, the other co-chair of the review, commented that PIP should contribute to disabled people meeting the extra costs of disability and participate in everyday life. He noted that through this review, the team has heard that while PIP is a lifeline for many people, the system too often fails to understand the reality of people’s lives.

Farquharson explained that disabled people have described a process that can feel stressful, dehumanising and hard to navigate, especially for people with fluctuating conditions, less visible or multiple conditions.

He stressed that this matters, because a system that does not feel fair or humane will not command trust from disabled people or from the wider public.

DWP pledges fundamental change

Sir Stephen Timms, Minister for Social Security and Disability and co-chair of the review, said that 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.

He noted that the review has been shaped by testimony from disabled individuals nationwide and stated that ministers will now proceed to the subsequent phase of developing reforms.

What occurs next?

The steering group will persist in accumulating evidence prior to releasing its complete proposals in autumn 2026.

Ministers have indicated that the review will inform the development of a future PIP framework that is more equitable, simpler to comprehend and more accurately represents the circumstances of disabled individuals, while preserving the benefit’s long-term viability.