The minister leading the current government review of personal independence payment (PIP), Sir Stephen Timms, has refused four times to rule out potential cuts to the benefit. However, he has made a firm commitment that no disabled person will be forced to accept products or services instead of cash payments.
Ongoing Review of PIP
Speaking in an interview with Disability News Service (DNS) at the Labour conference in Liverpool this week, Sir Stephen said he could not “speculate about what might happen in the future” regarding PIP spending. Nevertheless, he emphasised that 14 of the 15 members on his PIP review steering group are disabled people themselves, and that they are “not going to be coming up with a suggestion that people should have their money taken and something else done with it.”
The steering group is currently working through 15 workshops across the UK to discuss what the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has called “emerging recommendations” from the review. The final report is expected to be published in late November, although any policy decisions will ultimately be made by work and pensions secretary Pat McFadden.
No Forced Switching from Cash to Services
One clear point from Sir Stephen was his assurance that — according to the draft recommendations — no PIP claimant will ever be forced to accept products or services, such as therapy or mobility equipment, instead of receiving cash payments.
He explained that there “may be circumstances in which it will be better for people claiming PIP to request the funding goes into a service of some kind rather than them receiving the cash”, similar to how the Motability scheme operates. Importantly, he stressed this would be entirely voluntary.
He provided the example of a disabled woman who struggled to obtain a rise and recline bed. In such cases, the DWP might arrange bulk purchasing of such equipment if there is sufficient demand from PIP recipients.
When asked to confirm that no-one will be forced to accept services rather than cash, Sir Stephen responded: “Correct. Correct.”
Uncertainty Over Eligibility and Spending Cuts
On the question of whether ministers intend to tighten PIP eligibility as part of future spending cuts, Sir Stephen remained less forthcoming.
He said: “We will make recommendations in our report at the end of November and you’ve got a good indication of the kind of things we’re going to be saying, and we’re refining those through the workshops at the moment.”
He added that the report would be passed to the secretary of state, who “will also have the Alan Milburn report [on young people not in education, employment or training] and he will then decide what to do.”
Pressed again to rule out cuts, Sir Stephen replied: “What I’m focusing on is the content of the review. What happens beyond that is a separate exercise; I’m not able to say one way or another what that might or might not entail.”
The review’s interim report faced criticism for its lack of recommendations on eligibility, but Sir Stephen said the final report would include “principles around eligibility” while recognising that detailed work will be needed beyond the review.
Support for Vulnerable Claimants
When asked if current or future claimants with autism, ADHD, mental distress, or ill-health should be concerned about potential changes—given the focus from some right-wing media and politicians on these groups—Sir Stephen expressed reassurance.
He said: “I would be reassured, because this review has been taken forward by a group of very committed people. I’ve really enjoyed working with them; I think they’re a great group… who have the interests of disabled people very much at heart. Their recommendations I think are going to be profoundly influential on the government.”
Asked a fourth time if cuts or tightened eligibility might come in future, Sir Stephen reiterated: “I’m not going to speculate about what might happen in the future. What I’m saying is that my review is going to come up with recommendations, including around principles of eligibility.”
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