Campaigners have outlined four crucial changes the government should implement to improve the Personal Independence Payment (PIP) system, as the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) continues its Timms Review of the benefit.
Ross Barrett from the MS Society has described PIP as “broken,” emphasizing that the current system fails to meet the needs of many claimants, especially those with long-term conditions such as multiple sclerosis (MS). Barrett is urging the Labour government to adopt four specific reforms: follow Scotland’s lead in improving assessment processes, end compulsory reassessments for individuals with progressive, long-term illnesses, abolish the arbitrary ‘20-metre rule’ used in mobility assessments, and acknowledge fluctuating and invisible symptoms instead of disregarding them.
The MS Society has launched a petition to rally public support, stating: “Right now, the UK Government is reviewing PIP and considering options to change the system. This is our opportunity to fix PIP and ensure it truly supports people living with MS. Sign your name today to demand a fairer PIP.”
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To qualify for PIP, claimants must demonstrate difficulty completing everyday tasks or moving around due to a physical or mental condition. These difficulties should have been present for at least three months and are expected to last for another nine months. Applicants must live in England or Wales, with some exceptions for armed forces members.
Addressed to Pat McFadden, Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, and Stephen Timms, Minister for Social Security and Disability, the campaign highlights the pressing need to:
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Embed fairness, dignity, respect, consistency, and transparency throughout the PIP process by establishing clear core principles.
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Revise the assessment of fluctuating and invisible symptoms by adopting a flexible, person-centred approach that reflects the lived realities of conditions like MS, eliminating reliance on inaccurate informal observations.
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Overhaul mobility criteria by scrapping the outdated 20-metre rule and instead assessing whether individuals can complete essential daily activities and maintain independence.
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End unnecessary reassessments, offering lifetime awards as the default for those with long-term progressive conditions, introducing light-touch check-ins, and ceasing reviews for high-level award recipients.
These reforms aim to create a more compassionate, accurate, and sustainable PIP system that respects the dignity and unique challenges faced by people with disabilities.