Overview
- The Timms Review steering group published an interim report on Thursday that concluded the Personal Independence Payment system no longer works as intended and needs fundamental change.
- The review drew on more than 38,000 responses and found over 90% of claimants described the PIP claim and assessment process as stressful, dehumanising, inconsistent or degrading.
- The report names specific gaps in assessment for conditions such as autism, ADHD, mental health disorders, learning differences and sensory impairments and calls the points-based scoring system broken.
- It offers reform options including revising eligibility criteria, replacing the points system and considering non-cash supports, but it makes no immediate changes to payments or entitlement.
- Final recommendations will be designed and tested before publication in the autumn, leaving ministers to make politically and financially consequential choices that will affect millions of claimants and public spending.