Disability benefits in England and Wales face a radical overhaul after findings from the government’s landmark review into the Personal Independence Payment (Pip) that it is “not fit for purpose”.
Led by disability minister Sir Stephen Timms, the review into Britain’s most-claimed health and disability benefit was announced in July last year after the government was forced to row back on proposals to drastically cut welfare spending.
According to The Guardian, Sir Stephen’s review is expected to say: “Our message is simple: Pip is not working. It is not working for the people that go through the process, nor for a government committed to supporting disabled people.
“We are committed to making changes so that Pip can fulfil its purpose for disabled people and those with long-term conditions, both now and into the future. Doing so will require us to be radical in our thinking and bold in our recommendations for reform.”
It is expected to conclude that the points-based assessment system is ineffective because of a rising number of new conditions that fluctuate regularly and can often be less visible, especially relating to mental health.
Under newly-established rules, all Pip claimants over 25 face reassessments for the benefit every three years, rising to five years after their first successful review. This health assessment has long been criticised for only taking into account how the claimant’s health conditions present on the day, rather than at different times.
One of the expected recommendations is a move away from the current points-based system, and towards one that “adequately reflects the diverse reality and needs of disabled people today”.
Based on the findings, the government is now less likely to again pursue a tightening of the current points criteria, and instead look at a more comprehensive reform of the welfare system.
Ministers have already laid out plans to abolish the work capability assessment – a separate health assessment used to establish eligibility for universal credit’s health element – and instead use the Pip assessment as a gateway to both benefits.
It is possible that the overhaul could also see new rules introduced which apply only to younger claimants, delivering on government proposals made in May last year to restrict the amount of universal credit’s health element claimants under 22 can claim.
Both proposals have been shelved pending the recommendations of the Timms Review, and Alan Milburn’s review into youth unemployment, both expected to deliver final recommendations in the autumn.
Sir Stephen’s review will also say that it was to boost “public confidence” in the Pip system, adding: “it is important that the public can see how investment in Pip enables people to participate, contribute and live well”
“We need to examine how Pip can respond to the rising number of people seeking support and whether it adequately reflects the diverse reality and needs of disabled people today.”
The review was announced by the government in the middle of debate around minister’s proposed cuts to Pip, which saw over 100 Labour MPs threaten to rebel over the plans.
If passed, the proposals would have cut £4.8bn from the welfare budget. Changes to the health-related element of universal credit were still pushed through, for a reduced saving of £2.3bn.
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) said the review received over 38,000 responses during its call for evidence, and has two co-chairs and a 12-member steering group made up of people with experience or expertise of disability and long-term health conditions.
Likely future prime minister Andy Burnham is understood to be intending to carry on the government’s work on welfare reform – albeit under a new cabinet – with Mr Milburn saying earlier this week that the former Manchester mayor knows it is “absolutely necessary”.
