The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has faced criticism for allegedly failing to keep a promise regarding the Timms Review. This review is currently examining potential changes to Personal Independence Payment (PIP) and is in its consultation phase.
Disability Groups Voice Concerns
The Labour Party government and DWP have been strongly criticized by leading disability organizations over the direction of the Timms Review. Benefits and Work, a prominent advocacy group, warned that the review's 'Call for evidence,' issued in March, was 'extraordinarily complex' and 'clearly not fit for purpose' for consulting the majority of claimants. The call for evidence is set to close on 28 May 2026.
Benefits and Work stated: 'At the time, we expressed the hope that a detailed consultation aimed at claimants would be held at a later date. It is now clear this will not happen.'
Consultation Process Under Fire
While the consultation seeks responses from individuals with lived or learned experience of PIP, including disabled people, organizations, carers, clinicians, experts, MPs, and elected officials, Benefits and Work argues it is 'not a genuine consultation aimed at involving as many disabled claimants as possible.' Instead, the evidence-gathering program includes 'Workshop in a box' resource kits for organizations and representatives, expert evidence sessions, deliberative events across the UK later in the year, and a survey commissioned with the National Centre for Social Research (NatCen). This is intended to 'fill gaps in the current evidence base around independent living and how PIP acts as a gateway to other support.'
Benefits and Work added: 'The reality seems to be that the Timms Review is doing everything it can to avoid a genuine, mass consultation with disabled claimants. Instead, it is stalling for time by releasing scant information about events to be held at unspecified dates in the future, with most of these not even open to most disabled claimants.'
The Call for Evidence closes at 11:59pm on 28 May 2026.
