PIP proposals - What do the draft Timms recommendations mean?

We all want to be able to control our own lives and make our own decisions. For some Disabled people, Personal Independence Payment (PIP) helps with that, covering the extra things we require because of our condition or impairment.

PIP is being reviewed. The steering group behind the review process has recently shared draft recommendations.

Lots of them address problems that Disabled people have raised for many years. The draft recommendations include:

• Making assessments more accessible
• Making PIP assessments more accurate for people whose condition changes from day-to-day (fluctuating conditions)
• Being more transparent about how decisions are made
• Changes for people in hospital
• Ending repeated checks for people with lifelong conditions
• Changes to how information is gathered and used

The Campaign for Disabilty Justice is concerned about some of the draft recommendations for categories of PIP, and different ways of providing PIP.

Different PIP “cost categories”

PIP is provided for getting around, or for taking care of yourself. The draft recommendations say PIP should be broken into new cost categories, like ‘mobility and transport’ and ‘clothing and bedding’.

At the moment people use PIP to cover lots of different things, such as staying warm in colder months, supermarket deliveries, help around the house, treatments, or medication. The new “cost categories” are very narrow, and could lead to things being missed or underestimated.

Research from RIDC and Inclusion London found that 70% of people who work and receive PIP use it to get to work. Many had been told they didn’t need help to get around but were struggling.

Giving PIP in tight categories could ignore many extra costs Disabled people have to manage.

PIP given as ‘non-cash support’

Other draft recommendations suggest possibly giving people parts of their PIP in “services and other non-cash support”.

This could prevent people using PIP flexibly. For example, if someone visits family they might need more travel help that week, but less help around the house.

At the moment we can make this choice, but if PIP is given as services, it could be less flexible.

Clare, a Campaign for Disability Justice member, Disabled woman and social care professional said:

‘our needs fluctuate, so what we use PIP for changes too. We already lose a lot to pay for our care and this risks further impoverishment of Disabled people.’

Although the recommendations aim to make PIP something that gives people choices and dignity, dictating how our support can be used doesn’t align with this. The draft recommendations don’t explain how this would work. It needs to be clear, and having choice is crucial.

What happens next

Over the next few weeks. The Review team will hold workshops with Disabled people to check what people think about the draft recommendations.

The people attending the workshops have been chosen by the Review team, from everyone who applied.

They will also meet with charities and organisations run by and for Disabled people.

The draft recommendations say that the final system will be designed with Disabled people and tested before it is rolled out.

Nothing is confirmed yet. We’ll keep you updated whenever anything changes.