The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has been urged to make four specific changes to Personal Independence Payment (PIP) to improve the system for claimants, as the Timms Review continues. Ross Barrett of the MS Society has described PIP as "broken" and called on the Labour government to implement reforms.
Four key changes proposed
Barrett outlined four changes the government should make: follow Scotland's lead on PIP, end compulsory reassessments for people with long-term conditions like multiple sclerosis (MS), scrap the arbitrary ‘20-metre rule’ for mobility assessments, and stop ignoring fluctuating and invisible symptoms.
MS Society petition launched
The MS Society has launched a petition urging the government to make PIP fair for people with MS. The petition states: "Right now, the UK Government is reviewing PIP and considering their options to make changes to the system. Now is our chance to finally fix PIP and make sure the government make the right changes for people with MS." It calls on Pat McFadden MP, Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, and Stephen Timms MP, Minister for Social Security and Disability, to take action.
Current PIP eligibility
To qualify for PIP, claimants must find it hard to perform everyday tasks or get around due to a physical or mental condition. They must have experienced these difficulties for at least three months and expect them to continue for another nine months. Applicants must reside in England or Wales, unless they or a close family member are in the armed forces.
Specific demands from the MS Society
The MS Society is calling on the government to:
- Embed fairness, dignity and respect — Introduce new core principles for the PIP system that ensure fairness, dignity, respect, consistency and transparency at every stage of the process.
- Fix how fluctuating and invisible symptoms are assessed — Adopt a flexible, person-centred approach that captures the reality of living with conditions like MS, and end reliance on inaccurate informal observations.
- Change how mobility is assessed — Scrap the arbitrary 20-metre rule and replace it with an assessment based on whether people can complete essential daily tasks and live independently.
- End unnecessary reassessments — Offer lifetime awards as default for people with long-term, progressive conditions like MS, replacing compulsory reassessments with light-touch check-ins and stopping reassessments for those on the highest awards.
The MS Society emphasises that these changes would make the PIP system fairer and more effective for people with MS and other long-term conditions.
