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© 2026. The Purpl Co Limited. All rights reserved.
9 min read
Written by
Georgina, Founder of Purpl
Published on
July 9, 2026
Last reviewed: 9 July 2026
Applies to: England and Wales
Written by: Georgina, Founder of Purpl
The government has published the interim report from the Timms Review into Personal Independence Payment, also known as PIP.
The report says the current PIP system is “not fit for purpose”. It says the assessment process is stressful, difficult and often dehumanising for disabled people. You can read the official Timms Review interim report on GOV.UK.
This does not mean your PIP changes today.
Your current award does not automatically change.
PIP has not been scrapped.
The rules have not changed overnight.
But the report is important because it sets the direction for bigger recommendations, which are expected in autumn 2026. The Timms Review terms of reference say the final recommendations will be sent to the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions.
For many disabled people, this report will feel validating and worrying at the same time.
Validating because the government is finally saying what disabled people have said for years: the PIP process is not working.
Worrying because any time the government talks about changing disability benefits, people are understandably scared that support could be reduced.
At Purpl, we know PIP is not extra spending money. It helps disabled people cover some of the extra costs of living with a disability or long-term health condition.
While we push for a fairer benefits system, Purpl is here to help disabled people reduce everyday costs now. You can find member savings on essentials, food, household bills, mobility aids, travel and more at Purpl Discounts.
The Timms Review is a major government review of Personal Independence Payment.
PIP was introduced in 2013 to replace Disability Living Allowance for adults. It is meant to help with the extra costs of living with a disability or long-term health condition.
The review is being led by Sir Stephen Timms, Minister for Social Security and Disability. It is being co-produced with disabled people, disability organisations, carers, clinicians, experts, MPs and other stakeholders. This is explained in the government’s Timms Review terms of reference.
The review is looking at whether PIP is fair and fit for the future.
That includes looking at:
The purpose of PIP.
The daily living and mobility parts of PIP.
The assessment questions.
The points system.
The evidence used in decisions.
How PIP supports disabled people to live independently.
The government has also created a Timms Review collection on GOV.UK, where it is publishing the key review documents and updates.
The clearest message from the interim report is that PIP is not working properly.
The government’s own announcement says the first comprehensive review into PIP found it is “not fit for purpose”.
The report says the benefit itself is important and valued.
But it also says the system around it is broken.
That is a key difference.
Disabled people are not saying PIP is not needed.
They are saying the process is often harmful, stressful and unfair.
The Guardian also reported that the disability benefits system is “not working”, with the review finding deep problems in the current system.
Many disabled people told the review that the PIP process made them feel degraded, disbelieved or forced to focus only on the worst parts of their condition.
That will feel familiar to many people who have filled in a PIP form.
The process can feel like you have to prove how bad things are.
You may have to explain personal, painful or embarrassing details.
Or describe the same lifelong condition again and again.
You may feel scared that one good day, one short trip or one attempt to work could be used against you.
That is why this report matters.
It finally says, in official language, that the system is causing harm.
Purpl Insight: The trap of proving your illness: One of the biggest problems with PIP is that it can force people to focus on their worst moments. You are not encouraged to talk about what would help you live well, instead you are pushed to explain what you cannot do. A fair system should understand both.
It should understand what support someone needs to live, work if they can, rest when they need to and take part in everyday life. Disabled people should not have to make themselves sound completely broken just to be believed.
It is completely understandable that disabled people are worried.
Whenever the government talks about changing PIP, many people fear cuts. That fear does not come from nowhere.
Many disabled people have already been through stressful assessments, mandatory reconsiderations, appeals, benefit changes and reassessments.
For some people, a brown DWP envelope is enough to cause panic.
The interim report says the aim is to build a fairer system, not to make short-term cuts. However, the Timms Review terms of reference also say the review must consider long-term sustainability and stay within official spending forecasts.
That is why people are anxious.
Disabled people need a fairer system.
But they also need reassurance that “reform” will not become another word for reducing support.
Both things can be true.
PIP can need serious reform.
And disabled people can still be right to worry about what comes next.
Yes, PIP could change in the future.
But it has not changed today.
The review is due to make final recommendations in autumn 2026.
After that, the government would need to decide what to do next. Some changes may need Parliament or new regulations.
The review is looking at some big questions:
The Guardian has reported that the current system has struggled to reflect invisible and fluctuating conditions.
The review is also looking at whether more real-life evidence should be used. The Timms Review terms of reference say the review will consider evidence about a person’s circumstances and environment, not just a functional assessment.
That could matter a lot.
A person’s disability does not exist in a vacuum.
Someone may be able to do more with support, accessible transport, equipment, rest breaks or a suitable home.
They may struggle much more without those things.
A better system should understand real life, not just a short assessment.
It might.
The current PIP system uses activities, descriptors and points.
Many disabled people feel this system is too rigid. It does not always reflect fluctuating symptoms.
It does not always capture fatigue, pain, sensory overload, mental health, cognitive difficulties or the impact of doing something repeatedly.
The review is looking at whether this system needs to be changed. But we do not know yet what the final recommendation will be.
Possibly.
Some disability campaigners have pointed to Scotland’s Adult Disability Payment as a more compassionate model. The Guardian’s explainer on what the Timms Review is likely to conclude explains that some people want the UK government to learn from Scotland’s approach.
Adult Disability Payment uses more existing evidence and aims to reduce stressful assessments where possible.
That does not mean England and Wales will copy the Scottish model.
But it is part of the wider conversation.
If you have a PIP form, review, assessment, mandatory reconsideration or appeal happening now, do not ignore it because of the Timms Review.
The current rules still apply:
When filling in your PIP form, explain what happens on the majority of days.
Also explain what happens on bad days.
PIP should consider whether you can do an activity:
If doing something causes pain, exhaustion, a flare, a fall risk, confusion, distress or means you cannot do it again later, explain that clearly.
Try to include real examples from daily life.
For example:
Do not assume the assessor will understand your condition from the name alone.
PIP is not based just on your diagnosis.
It is based on how your condition affects your daily living and mobility.
Do not assume DWP will collect everything for you.
Useful evidence can include:
Try to match your evidence to the PIP activities, rather than sending lots of paperwork with no explanation.
Purpl Tip: Ask for your assessment recording quickly: From 29 June 2026, the government confirmed that health assessments are now recorded as standard for face-to-face and telephone assessments. If you have a PIP assessment, ask for a copy of your recording as soon as possible.
The government’s guidance on audio recordings at health assessments says digital download links usually expire after 7 days. That means you should download and save your copy quickly. This can be important if you later need to challenge a decision.
Living with a disability or long-term health condition is expensive.
PIP is meant to help with some of those extra costs. GOV.UK describes PIP as support for people with the extra costs of disability and long-term health conditions.
Those costs can include:
PIP can help, but many disabled people know it does not cover everything.
That is why Purpl exists.
Purpl helps disabled people, people with long-term health conditions and carers reduce everyday costs through verified member discounts.
You can use Purpl to look for savings on:
We cannot fix the PIP system overnight.
But we can help disabled people reduce some of the extra costs they face while the system catches up.
No. Your PIP payment has not changed because of the interim report. The report is part of an ongoing review. It is not a change in law. Current PIP awards, reviews, appeals and payments continue under the current rules.
No. PIP has not been scrapped. The government says it remains committed to PIP being a non-means-tested cash benefit for people in and out of work. This is set out in the Timms Review terms of reference.
There is no confirmed change replacing PIP with vouchers. The Timms Review says the government remains committed to PIP as a cash benefit. That means people should not panic about vouchers because of this interim report.
The final recommendations are expected in autumn 2026. After that, the government will decide what to do next. Any major changes may need Parliament, new regulations or further government action.
The review says PIP has not kept pace with how disability, health and work have changed. The government’s announcement says the first comprehensive review into PIP found the system can be stressful, dehumanising and create barriers to work, physical activity and community life.
Yes. If you think you may be eligible, you should still apply under the current rules. The Timms Review has not changed the application process today.
Yes If you have a deadline, you must still respond. Do not wait for the Timms Review final report if DWP has asked you for information now.
You can ask for a mandatory reconsideration. If that does not change the decision, you may be able to appeal to a tribunal. Try to get advice from Citizens Advice, a welfare rights adviser, a disability charity or a local benefits support service if you can.
Purpl exists to help disabled people reduce the extra costs of daily life. PIP is one of the main benefits designed to help with those costs, so any review of PIP matters directly to our community. We want disabled people to understand what has changed, what has not changed, and what they need to do if they are currently dealing with a PIP claim or review.
The Timms Review interim report confirms what disabled people have known for years.
PIP is needed. But the process is not working.
The system is too stressful, too rigid and too often forces people to prove how unwell they are before they can access support.
The important thing to remember is that nothing changes today.
Your award does not automatically change. PIP has not been scrapped. The current rules still apply.
But this report could shape what happens next.
As the final recommendations approach in autumn 2026, disabled people need clear information, real reassurance and a system that is built around dignity, not fear.
Georgina is the Founder of Purpl, a specialist UK discount platform built to help disabled people, people with long-term health conditions and carers reduce the extra costs of daily life.
Living with Multiple Sclerosis herself, Georgina uses lived experience to create practical, honest and jargon-free guidance for the disabled community.
Purpl’s UK Disability Benefits & Support Handbook: https://www.purpldiscounts.com/uk-disability-benefits
Why PIP award reviews are so stressful for people with lifelong conditions: https://www.purpldiscounts.com/blog/why-pip-award-reviews-are-so-stressful
PIP reassessments moving to every 5 years – but what’s the catch?: https://www.purpldiscounts.com/blog/pip-reassessments-2026-5-year-review
Has your PIP award review date suddenly changed?: https://www.purpldiscounts.com/blog/pip-award-review-date-changed-2026-dwp-rules
Discounts on disability aids: https://www.purpldiscounts.com/category/disability-aids