The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has officially responded to calls for reforming Personal Independence Payment (PIP) procedures for individuals with lifelong health conditions.
Parliamentary Pressure for Change
Conservative MP Suella Braverman directly challenged the government on its approach to PIP claimants with chronic illnesses. She submitted written questions to the DWP, asking whether the department had considered creating exemptions or streamlined processes for people with conditions such as Type 1 diabetes and other progressively complex, lifelong disorders.
Mrs Braverman specifically questioned what steps were being taken to "help reduce the potential impact of PIP reassessments for chronic conditions on the mental health of families affected." She further pressed the department on whether it planned to reform the reassessment process entirely for these patient groups.
Government's Firm Stance
In a definitive response, Labour's Sir Stephen Timms provided clarity on the government's position. He stated that "other than for claims made under the special rules for people nearing the end of their life, all claims to PIP are treated in the same way."
Sir Stephen emphasised that "entitlement to PIP is assessed on the basis of the needs arising from a health condition or disability, rather than the health condition or disability itself." This confirms the DWP's continued focus on how conditions affect daily living and mobility, not the diagnoses themselves.
Comprehensive Review Underway
While ruling out immediate changes, Sir Stephen revealed significant future developments. He announced that "there will be no changes to the eligibility conditions for the PIP mobility component or indeed the other aspects of PIP until the conclusion of the review."
This major assessment is being co-produced with disabled people and is being led by Sir Stephen himself. The review is expected to examine carefully how PIP decisions and judgments are made. The findings from this comprehensive evaluation are scheduled to be published in the autumn of 2026.
This DWP update arrives during a period of intense scrutiny surrounding the benefits system and the growing welfare expenditure, making this clarification particularly significant for thousands of claimants across the UK.
