Two ‘vital reviews’ will report back with changes after system declared ‘not fit for purpose’
An update has been given on key changes which are being planned for benefits – with Personal Independence Payments (PIP) in the firing line. In a House of Lords debate, the government confirmed when two ‘vital reviews’ will report back with changes.
Big changes could hit people claiming PIPs especially. The Timms Review Interim Report concluded that the Personal Independence Payment (PIP) system is no longer fit for purpose.
Claimants of personal independence payment (PIP) often find the system to apply for the benefit “dehumanising”, “soul destroying”, and “degrading”, the interim Timms report said. PIP is intended to help with everyday tasks and extra living costs if someone has a long-term physical or mental health condition or disability.
The latest official figures earlier this year showed the number of people in England and Wales claiming the main disability benefit passed four million for the first time – roughly doubling since 2019. The number of claimants classed as having autistic spectrum disorders has more than doubled in six years, as has the number with mixed anxiety and depressive disorders, while the number with ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder) has almost quadrupled in that time period.
A separate report led by Alan Milburn in an interim response revealed that nearly one million young people are not in education, employment, or training (NEET). His interim review into youth employment calls for a fundamental system reset from a “Welfare State” that exacerbates inactivity to a “Working State” that builds capability.
In a House of Lords debate, Labour’s Baroness Sherlock, speaking for the government, explained both will come back with concrete plans this autumn: “The Government are absolutely looking at how we can reform our social security system. It simply is not fit for purpose and it needs work. The noble Lord will know that we are in the middle of two vital reviews: into youth unemployment, led by Alan Milburn, and into the future of personal independence payment, led by my colleague Stephen Timms. In the meantime, we are taking action across the field, investing in support for young people, rebalancing universal credit to encourage people into work, guaranteeing disabled people the right to try, overhauling job centres and building personalised work programmes. We are determined to get this right.”
Baroness Teather from the Liberal Democrats asked about ‘right to work from home’ for the disabled: “My Lords, many people with disabilities and long-term conditions want to work and, with a lot more flexibility and support, would be able to do so. I welcome the new disabled persons bus pass with free travel, something for which my Lib Dem colleague Tom Gordon long campaigned. Does the Minister also support giving disabled people more rights to flexible working, including, for example, a right to work from home unless there is a strong business case against it?”
Baroness Sherlock said: “We are working extensively with sick and disabled people to support them back into work, but we must first make sure that they have the support they need, the motivation they need and, crucially, the jobs they need. We also need to work with employers. We are doing a lot of work with employers who are trying to hire people and want to make sure that they know what they can best do. Our connect to work programme is working with both the individual and the employer, to find people, connect them with jobs and make sure that they get the help they need. That is the most important step to take now.”
