The Personal Independence Payment (PIP) Timms Review
Personal Independence Payment
Personal Independence Payment (PIP) is the name of a benefit that some people with a disability or health condition get. The money is to pay for extra help you might need to look after yourself and to get around. Some people who used to get Disability Living Allowance (DLA) now get PIP instead.
(PIP) is a benefit that helps disabled people manage the extra costs of daily life.
The Government The Government are the people who run the country. They decide how much tax people should pay for things and how things like the National Health Service should work. are doing a full review of PIP.
A review is a meeting or a check-up to look at how things are going.
What is happening with PIP?
In 2025, the Government proposed changes to PIP that would have made it harder for many people including people with a learning disability A learning disability is to do with the way someone's brain works. It makes it harder for someone to learn, understand or do things. to qualify.
After widespread concern and campaigning from disabled people, charities, MPs and the public, those proposals were paused.
Instead, the Government committed to a review of PIP which is now underway.
What is the PIP Review?
The Review is formally known as the Timms Review of Personal
Independence
Independence means doing things on your own. Making your own choices.
Payment.
It is being led by Sir Stephen Timms MP, Minister for Disabled People, alongside two co‑chairs, and is overseen by a steering group of disabled people and people with lived experience Experience is when you have learned or tried something before. .
The Government has said the Review is about making sure PIP is fair and fit for the future:
- At this stage, the Review is focused on listening and evidence‑gathering. It is expected to make recommendations toward the end of 2026. Initial thoughts have been shared but they are not their final recommendations, and are still subject to government approval. (The Timms Review: co-chair update, September 2026 - Easy Read)
What is Mencap working on?
Mencap is engaging with the Review to make sure the experiences of people with a learning disability - and their families - are heard clearly. This includes:
- Surveying people with a learning disability
- Submitting detailed policy evidence
- Challenging parts of the existing system that do not work well
- Working alongside other disability charities and organisations Organisations are groups like companies and businesses. .
Mencap's priorities regarding the Personal Independence Payment (PIP) Timms Review
Click on each of our priorities to find out more about them.
