Personal Independence Payment (PIP) requires 'fundamental change' to become 'financially sustainable,' according to Sir Stephen Timms, the Minister of State for Social Security and Disability, who published an interim review on 9 July 2026. The review, based on responses from over 38,000 people, described the PIP claims process as 'dehumanising,' 'soul destroying,' and 'degrading' to claimants.
Soaring Costs and Rising Claimant Numbers
Spending on PIP has risen dramatically: from approximately £15 billion in 2019/20 to £26 billion by 2024/25, with forecasts projecting over £41 billion by the end of the decade. As of April 2026, more than four million people claim the benefit, which helps cover extra costs from long-term disability, ill-health, or progressive disease. The number of claimants with autistic spectrum disorders has more than doubled in six years, while those with ADHD has almost quadrupled, according to Press Association analysis.
Review Findings and Recommendations
The Timms review concluded that PIP is 'no longer fit for purpose.' Sir Stephen told BBC Radio Four's Today programme that the system 'hasn’t kept up with our changing understanding of disability and ill health over the 13 years since it was first introduced.' He added that for many, PIP has become 'a barrier to participation, which is the opposite of what’s intended,' as claimants fear that engaging in activities could lead to loss of benefits.
When asked if the final report, due in autumn, would recommend cutting the number of claimants, Sir Stephen said: 'Well, we’ll need to wait and see what our recommendations are.' The review was commissioned after Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer abandoned plans to cut £5 billion from sickness and disability benefits following a major Labour rebellion, one of the most destabilising moments of his premiership.
