The Department for Work and Pensions has confirmed that Personal Independence Payment claimants who participate in workshops examining the Timms Review recommendations will receive a one-off bonus payment. The deadline to register interest is Friday, 21 August 2026.
Workshop details and locations
The workshops, led by co-chair and Labour Party cabinet member Sir Stephen Timms, will take place in September and October 2026. Participants can attend either online or in person, with venues confirmed by the DWP in Belfast, Scotland, Cardiff, Bournemouth, Birmingham, Middlesbrough, Newcastle, the Yorkshire and Humber region, and beyond.
Attendance at the full workshop is required to qualify for the one-off payment. The DWP stated: “We will also reimburse reasonable travel costs and other necessary expenses (for example, costs of a personal assistant) for you if you are attending a workshop in a personal capacity.”
Payment conditions and tax implications
The DWP added: “We will provide you with more information if you are invited to a workshop. Any payments you receive from this are subject to tax and National Insurance contributions. You are responsible for disclosing payments to HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) and any queries on these arrangements should be taken up with HMRC. These payments will not be pensionable.”
To register interest, claimants must complete and submit the ‘about you’ form, which went live on the DWP website on Wednesday, 12 August 2026 at 10am. The registration window closes on Friday, 21 August 2026 at 5pm. The DWP aims to notify selected participants via email by 4 September 2026.
Full workshop schedule
The DWP has released the full list of workshop dates and locations:
- September 15 – London – in person
- September 18 – Newcastle/Middlesbrough and surrounding areas – online
- September 22 – Bournemouth – in person
- September 22 – England and Wales all regions – online
- September 24 – Birmingham – in person
- September 25 – South Cardiff – in person
- September 29 – Norwich and surrounding areas – online
- September 29 – Glasgow – in person
- September 30 – Bangor – in person
- September 30 – England and Wales all regions – online
- October 1 – Belfast – in person
- October 1 – Liverpool – in person
- October 2 – York and the Humber, in Sheffield – in person
- October 6 – All Scotland – online
- October 7 – All Northern Ireland – online
Claimants must register by the Friday deadline to be considered for the one-off payment and reimbursement of expenses.
