A DWP minister has shared an update about an on-going review of the PIP benefit system (Personal Independence Payment). The top officials spoke about some key dates coming up soon for the project.
PIP supports people who live with a long-term health condition or disability, providing payments to help cover the extra costs associated with their condition. The benefit is worth up to £194.60 a week, or £778.40 each four week pay period.
A review of the benefit is under way, being headed by DWP minister Sir Stephen Timms. This study is looking at topics such as the eligibility rules for the benefit and making sure the system works fairly.
Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, Pat McFadden, has given an update to the Work and Pensions Committee about the review. He said: “I expect an interim report from the Timms review before this summer recess.”
‘Legislative change’
This gives a very short timeframe for this interim report to come out, as the House of Commons rises for the summer recess on Thursday, July 16.
Mr McFadden also told the MPs there will be a “final report” for the review by the end of this year. He added: “If there is legislative change needed, it will come after that.” The decision to launch the PIP review came after the Government previously set out plans to tighten the eligibility rules for the benefit, in particular for the daily living part.
After much opposition from MPs including Labour backbenchers, the Government decided to scrap making any changes to the benefit, saying that it would not make any changes before the review is completed.
Mr McFadden was asked if the review was merely “delaying difficult decisions”. In response, the minister said: “What we were saying in the terms of reference was, we were sending a signal to the reviewers not to come forward with a big increase in costs package.
“There’s nothing to stop them coming forward with measures that would reduce costs. We didn’t want them to come forward with a review that simply said let’s pay much more into the system. We want to look at the operation of the system.”
‘Critical question’
Mr McFadden also said there is a “critical question for the system”, namely the changes in the health conditions that PIP claimants have. He said: “In particular, there has been an increase in conditions like anxiety, depression, neurodiverse conditions and so on.
“Is this benefit fit for purpose in the way it’s designed in dealing with that variety of conditions? I think that’s a very interesting question for the reviewers.”
