The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has released an update concerning Personal Independence Payment (PIP) claims made since 2020, following scrutiny by a Labour MP during a recent session in the House of Commons.
Neil Duncan-Jordan, Labour MP for Poole, inquired about the factors behind the increasing number of PIP claimants between 2020 and 2024. Addressing the query, Sir Stephen Timms, the Labour cabinet member leading the ongoing Timms Review of PIP, highlighted that recent analysis is detailed in the DWP evidence pack annexed to the Timms Review’s interim report.
The report’s key sections—specifically Section 3, outlining trends in working-age disability benefits, and Section 4, examining factors influencing increased claims and expenditure—offer in-depth insights into the growth of claims. An official document explains that this rise is attributable to a combination of more people being awarded PIP benefits and a reduced tendency for claimants to cease receiving them.
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It was noted that while the increase in awards largely stems from a surge in new claims, there has also been a subtle rise in the likelihood of new claimants being granted PIP since the pandemic began, particularly among those who previously received Disability Living Allowance (DLA) as children. These changes in award rates appear to coincide roughly with the pandemic but may also result from adjustments in decision-making processes implemented shortly before the pandemic.
The interim findings from the Timms Review reveal that although PIP remains a critical financial support for disabled individuals, enabling them to meet additional living costs, it is not fully meeting its intended purpose for disabled people or society at large. Feedback indicates that while many rely on PIP to participate in everyday life, some experience barriers—especially individuals with fluctuating, less visible, or multiple disabilities—that hinder their engagement in work, social, and community activities.
The DWP emphasized that the ongoing review aims to ensure PIP is equitable and adaptable, supporting disabled people towards improved health, higher living standards, and greater independence, including employment opportunities. The review also considers related initiatives within the health and social care sectors, such as the Milburn Review addressing the rise in young people not in education, employment, or training (NEET).
Both the Timms Review and connected evaluations are expected to conclude later this year, laying the groundwork for sustainable and effective reform of PIP.