The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has come under fire for failing to deliver on promises of a thorough consultation process as part of the ongoing Timms Review, which is assessing potential changes to the Personal Independence Payment (PIP) system.
Currently in its consultation phase, the Timms Review aims to gather insights from individuals with lived or learned experience of PIP, including disabled people, carers, clinicians, advocacy organizations, and elected officials throughout the UK. The consultation remains open until 28 May 2026.
However, leading disability advocates and groups such as Benefits and Work have vocally criticized the approach, labeling the initial “Call for Evidence” issued in March as overly complex and inaccessible to the majority of PIP claimants. They argue the review lacks a genuine effort to involve disabled people directly in decision-making.
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Benefits and Work highlighted that despite hopes for a detailed, claimant-focused consultation following the initial call, there is little evidence this will occur. Instead, much of the engagement relies on indirect methods, including ‘Workshop in a Box’ resource kits distributed to organizations and politicians, expert evidence sessions, data analysis, and a new survey commissioned with the National Centre for Social Research (NatCen).
The review intends to address gaps in understanding how PIP facilitates independent living and access to additional support. Nevertheless, critics assert that the process largely excludes disabled claimants from meaningful participation, calling it a stalling tactic with limited transparency regarding events scheduled for later in the year, many of which are not accessible to the claimants themselves.
As the deadline for the Call for Evidence approaches at 11:59 pm on 28 May 2026, calls for a more inclusive and accessible consultation process remain loud within the disability community.