A Labour government review into disability benefits is expected to recommend the complete scrapping of the current assessment system, according to reports. Stephen Timms, the disability minister, is anticipated to propose a 'radical' and 'bold' overhaul of the Personal Independence Payment (PIP), asserting that it is "not fit for purpose."
Mr. Timms was tasked with reviewing PIP, the primary disability benefit in England and Wales, following a significant government reversal on planned welfare cuts last year. An interim review of the PIP system is slated for publication this week, with further reform recommendations expected in the autumn.
The review's preliminary findings, as reported by The Guardian, suggest that the existing points-based assessment system is largely ineffective. This is attributed to the increasing number of new conditions, particularly mental health-related ones, that can fluctuate significantly in severity. The report is expected to conclude that PIP is failing both disabled individuals and the government's commitment to support them.
PIP is designed to assist with daily living expenses and extra costs for individuals with long-term physical or mental health conditions or disabilities. It is available to those who are working, have savings, or receive most other benefits, and it is not means-tested. The highest weekly payment rate for PIP is £194.60.
Data from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) indicates that as of April, approximately 4 million individuals were entitled to PIP, representing about 10% of the working-age population. Notably, the number of PIP claimants citing ADHD as their primary condition has risen by 40% since July 2024, reaching over 100,000.
The current assessment process involves awarding points based on a claimant's difficulties with everyday tasks like washing or cooking to determine eligibility. The forthcoming review is expected to highlight that this system has not kept pace with fluctuating and less visible conditions, encompassing both physical ailments such as cystic fibrosis and arthritis, as well as mental health conditions.
Before a policy reversal on welfare cuts last summer, Prime Minister Keir Starmer had explored tightening PIP assessment rules to restrict access. The review's anticipated conclusion emphasizes the need for a new system that "adequately reflects the diverse reality and needs of disabled people today." The review's message is reportedly that "PIP is not working" and requires "radical thinking" and "bold recommendations for reform" to fulfill its purpose for disabled people and those with long-term conditions now and in the future. The DWP declined to comment on the report.