Disability benefits in England and Wales not fit for purpose, Timms review to find

There were protests last June before Keir Starmer’s U-turn on welfare cuts. Photograph: Vuk Valcic/SOPA Images/Shutterstock View image in fullscreen There were protests last June before Keir Starmer’s U-turn on welfare cuts. Photograph: Vuk Valcic/SOPA Images/Shutterstock Disability benefits in England and Wales not fit for purpose, Timms review to find Exclusive: Landmark review by disability minister will call for ‘dehumanising’ assessment system to be redrawn What is the Timms review into Pip and what is it likely to conclude? Disability benefits in England and Wales are “not fit for purpose” and the entire assessment system must be redrawn as part of a radical welfare overhaul, the government’s landmark review of personal independence payments will say. The Guardian understands the review will conclude that the points-based system of assessment is in effect worthless because of the rising number of new conditions – particularly relating to mental health – that can fluctuate considerably in severity. The review by the disability minister, Stephen Timms, which was commissioned in the aftermath of Keir Starmer’s U-turn on welfare cuts , will also conclude that the assessment process is dehumanising for disabled people and the system actively hinders people from seeking work. The Timms review has been prepared in collaboration with disabled people and charities and is expected to be released in two parts. The interim review of the system is expected this week, followed this autumn by recommendations on how the new system should be designed. The current system awards points on the basis of the severity of a condition for mobility and for daily living, such as washing and dressing. Campaigners have long argued that some parts of the system, such as points for navigating a route or planning a budget, may have been intended to capture learning disabilities but now cover some mental health conditions where the ability to do an activity may vary from day to day. The conclusions of the review make it likely that the government will not pursue using a harsher points-based system and instead will explore much more root-and-branch welfare reform. The Department for Work and Pensions declined to comment on the interim report. The review’s remit is not to find cuts, but its steering committee is not allowed to suggest changes that would increase the overall projected welfare spend. Pip is not working for disabled people or for the government and bold changes are needed, the report will 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.” The review was commissioned as part of the governm