Review of Personal Independence Payment launches
The government’s new review will look into the broken Personal Independence Payment (PIP) system and how it can be improved.
Sir Stephen Timms, Minister for Social Security and Disability, has launched his Review of Personal Independence Payment (PIP).
Sir Stephen will chair the Review, alongside two co-chairs:
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Sharon Brennan, who lives with cystic fibrosis. Read more about Sharon on the National Voices website.
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Dr Clenton Farquharson, who is a wheelchair user. Read more about Clenton on his website.
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12 Steering Group members.
The Minister is keen to make sure the Group membership reflects a diverse range of lived experience. Those interested in joining the Steering Group have until midnight on 30 November to apply. Apply now on the GOV.UK website.
The scope of the Review, set out in the Terms of Reference, addresses key issues for people with Parkinson’s. These include the role of PIP in helping people with disabilities and long-term conditions to live independently. They also include whether the assessment criteria effectively captures the impact of living with a long-term condition like Parkinson's. Read the Terms of Reference on the GOV.UK website.
It’s expected that the Steering Group will have its first meeting before the end of 2025 and will produce a report for debate in Parliament by Autumn 2026.
Juliet Tizzard, Director of External Relations at Parkinson’s UK, said:
"We welcome the Timms Review of the PIP assessment and Sir Stephen Timms’ commitment to leading it. As the previous Chair of the Work and Pensions Committee, Sir Stephen championed a fairer, more effective system. His leadership and experience gives this review a fighting chance of delivering real change.
"Since they first began over a decade ago, PIP assessments have consistently failed people with Parkinson’s, with them experiencing a 9% higher error rate than average. This has led to misery and poverty. Meaningful reform is long overdue.
"The government admits the system is broken. Now, PIP must be fixed. We’re ready to work closely with Sir Stephen to ensure this review delivers the change many people with Parkinson’s urgently need."
Sir Stephn Timms is keen to recruit people with lived experience of living with a long-term condition, such as Parkinson’s.
It’s vital to have personal stories from people with Parkinson’s to show what the impact of benefits changes will be.
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