Sneaky second u-turn on PIP rules

[MarvellousMonsters]

30 OCTOBER 2025

The government quietly tweaked its PIP review to include current claimants. First they said the review would only affect future claims. Now they've changed the scope - meaning any sick or disabled person relying on this crucial financial support is at risk.

https://the.organise.network/surveys/stephen-timms-review

A revised document issued by the DWP today confirms that current personal independence payment (PIP) claimants will be covered by the Timms review.

https://www.benefitsandwork.co.uk/news/timms-review-will-cover-current-pip-claimants,-dwp-confirms?utm_source=chatgpt.com&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=blast1115189

Yes absolutely @breezyyy it is so demoralising to see all the “I know 50 people who are scamming PIP and are perfectly fine really” comments on here. I get standard rate PIP for a diagnosed chronic condition, it was a huge battle and I found it very demeaning, and humiliating, the assessors misrepresenting my answers (lying, basically) and having my medical evidence ignored, and at appeal answering questions and effectively being called a liar. One person at an appeal actually said ‘I see you work part time, how do you manage that with the difficulties you say you have?’

I don’t know how anyone manages to scam PIP, it’s incredibly difficult to qualify for it when you are genuinely impaired like me. Under the proposed 4 point rule I won’t qualify, which is ridiculous, because I can’t increase my work/earn any more, and my difficulties mean my cost of living is higher than a non-disabled person.

Bless you, I know how demoralising it is with my family member. It’s all so awful. People have been made a target to take away the finger pointing at the government.

I do wonder if 'influencers' on Social Media have facilitated some claims that shouldn't have passed muster.

As I've said repeatedly when advising PIP claimants there are no magic words.

However. working with genuine claimants, and focusing on the published scoring criteria around, for just one example, getting in and out of an unadapted bath or shower you can move them on quite well.

I think a return to more F2F assessments, particularly where high scores for 'moving around' are sought, would be a good move.

I've no experience of people trying it on for Daily Living but I'm suspicious of several people I've met with Motability cars.

Because whether or not you are in receipt of PIP will affect how much you get on UC. Making it harder to claim will directly affect that, and there will be two rates payable for people who claim the same benefits.

Surely this is fair as otherwise you'd have a two tier system.

Agree. I think the Timms review is more likely to result in what the government promised in their manifesto. A proper review and root and branch reform, with consultation with disabled people and their representative organisations. What we have at the moment is a series of tinkering at the edges which tries to tackle those taking the piss, but ends up affecting genuine claimants.

I can't think of circumstances where PIP interacts with UC except for Carers and around extra bedrooms when you rent as it's a gateway test before looking at overnight care and where health problems stop couples sharing.

If planned changes go ahead next year, the LCWRA rate of UC will depend on whether the claimant is in receipt of any daily living component of PIP. At the moment it’s decided on the work capacity assessment, which is set to be phased out. The benefit cap exemption will be determined by this if the changes go ahead. There is also a potential exemption from council tax if in receipt of PIP, entitling you to a single person discount via UC.

These proposals are not included in the Timms review.

Ahh, missed that.

It’s not surprising to be honest. A lot of the things that are planned for PIP are outside of the Timms review and not up for discussion on the consultation. And of course, that’s something the general public don’t get to know. I’m hoping the Timms review will result in at least some of the promises this government made in it’s manifesto being honoured - a proper root and branch reform, clearer and fairer assessment criteria and an overhaul of the decision making process so that the obscene amounts of tax payers money spent on appeals can be reduced. At the moment, appeal is the only way many claimants can get a fair award because the level of expertise is way above that of assessors. That’s really what needs to change.