Prime Minister Andy Burnham will receive final recommendations from the Timms Review on Personal Independence Payment (PIP), as the Department for Work and Pensions confirms 178 medical conditions currently qualify for the benefit. Mr Burnham has said the government must "get serious" with the welfare bill, a comment made during a BBC Panorama interview that preceded his first major intervention for benefits claimants.
The Timms Review and PIP Reform
The Timms Review, led by Sir Stephen Timms, has already submitted an interim report concluding that PIP, claimed by four million people, is "not fit for purpose." The final recommendations will force Mr Burnham to implement changes alongside DWP minister Pat McFadden and Chancellor John Healey. The review is examining why PIP eligibility criteria are failing, with a skyrocketing benefits bill driving the need for reform.
PIP is not a single flat rate but split into two components: daily living, covering the extra costs of managing everyday tasks, and mobility, addressing challenges getting around. At the top end, it is worth £758 a month.
Full List of 178 Conditions
The DWP has released the complete list of 178 conditions that can make claimants eligible for PIP. The list includes a wide range of physical, mental, and developmental disorders, with thousands of claimants per condition. For example, mixed anxiety and depressive disorders account for 435,330 claimants, osteoarthritis 303,235, and autistic spectrum disorders 258,539. Other high-volume conditions include specific back pain (224,345), inflammatory arthritis (192,586), and mood disorders (156,155).
Notable entries also cover cancers (breast cancer with 30,622 claimants), neurological conditions (cerebrovascular disease 90,528, multiple sclerosis 57,599), and respiratory diseases (COPD 91,773). The list is extensive, from rare conditions like porphyria (56 claimants) to common ones such as anxiety disorders (69,454) and stress reactions (67,990).
Implications for Claimants
The forthcoming changes are likely to tighten eligibility criteria, potentially removing some conditions or altering how they are assessed. Mr Burnham, the Makerfield MP, has promised better links to employers for 14-year-olds at school, signalling a broader shift towards employment-focused welfare. The DWP is wrestling with ballooning costs, and the Timms Review aims to make PIP more sustainable.
Claimants are advised to stay informed as the review concludes. The final recommendations will be published later this year, with changes expected to take effect in 2027.
