As many of you will recall, a proposal to review Personal Independence Payment (PIP) formed part of the UK Government’s plans last year (NCUK News Item, June 2025).
Thanks to sustained campaigning by individuals and charities — including our own submission alongside many of you affected by neuroendocrine cancer — the government withdrew proposals to change PIP and instead committed to delivering the Timms Review before making any changes.
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), on behalf of the Timms Review steering group, is now inviting disabled people, carers, organisations, clinicians, experts and other stakeholders to submit evidence to inform the Timms Review of Personal Independence Payment (PIP). The deadline for submissions is 11:59 pm on 28 May 2026
N.B., The stated purpose of PIP was to provide a contribution towards the extra costs faced by disabled people and people with long‑term health conditions.
(PIP has largely been replaced in Scotland by Adult Disability Payment (ADP), however people in Scotland are still encouraged to respond to this call for evidence).
Cancer as a Disability
The Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) was introduced to prevent discrimination against disabled people and to ensure that people are not treated less favourably because of a disability. The DDA has largely been replaced by the Equality Act in England, Wales and Scotland.
Under equality legislation, a diagnosis of cancer is automatically treated as a disability from the day of diagnosis.
- England, Scotland and Wales:
The Equality Act 2010 applies to people with cancer or those who have had cancer in the past. All cancers are included.
- Northern Ireland:
The Disability Discrimination (Northern Ireland) Order 2006 applies to people with cancer living in Northern Ireland.
About the Timms Review
The Timms Review aims to ensure that PIP is fair, effective and fit for purpose in the future. It seeks to better reflect the real‑world impact of disability and long‑term health conditions, and to support people to achieve greater independence, improved living standards and meaningful participation in society, including work.
What the Review Is Seeking Evidence On
Feedback and evidence are invited across four key themes:
- The role and purpose of PIP
Whether PIP is meeting its intended aims and supporting independent living.
- Eligibility, fairness and equity
Whether assessments fairly capture modern experiences of disability and enable access to the right support at the right level.
- Experience of claiming PIP
Including accessibility, trust, assessments, reviews and appeals.
- Changing context and future challenges
How changes in society, the workplace and the benefits system since 2013 affect PIP, and how it may need to adapt going forward.
Evidence can include lived experience, professional insight, data, analysis or reports, and can be submitted by individuals or organisations.
Further information, including a more detailed explanation of the four key themes, and how to submit your response, can be found HERE
How to Respond
- Deadline: 11:59 pm on 28 May 2026
- Responses can be submitted online, by email, by post, or in accessible formats, including British Sign Language, audio, Easy Read, Braille, large print and Welsh.
- Anonymous responses are accepted.
All submissions will inform the steering group’s recommendations, and a summary of responses will be published during the course of the Review.
Your voice matters: take part and help shape the future of PIP.
