Timms Review call for evidence launched

The Timms Review steering group launched a call for evidence on Personal Independence Payment on 19 March 2026¹. The call for evidence was administered by the Department for Work and Pensions on behalf of the steering group¹. It remained open for 10 weeks, closing on 28 May 2026, and received 38,713 responses from a broad range of individuals and organisations¹.

The call invited views, experiences and information across 4 themes: the role and purpose of PIP, assessment, decision-making, and the wider claimant experience¹. Responses were submitted anonymously, enabling contributors to share views openly and in detail¹. The published summary of findings was updated on 9 July 2026¹.

Respondents who chose to identify a group were counted as follows. The report states the categories overlap, percentages do not total 100% and volumes are rounded estimates, so the breakdown should be treated as indicative only¹.

The Review used an Analytic Vertical Intelligence System (AVIS), described as an artificial intelligence-assisted, human-led analytical framework designed to enable large-scale analysis, with human oversight embedded throughout¹.

On the content of responses, around 50% (about 19,350) reference financial adequacy, making it one of the most frequently raised topics¹. Approximately 40% (about 15,485) refer to the relationship between PIP, employment and independent living¹. Between 50 and 58% (about 19,400 to 22,500) of respondents express positive views about PIP as a benefit, while 36 to 40% (13,900 to 15,500) refer to concerns about the adequacy and reliability of support and how the process works in practice¹.

The report also states that responses indicate PIP is not working well in practice, with the process often described as involving a high level of effort, and some respondents describing it as repetitive, stressful and, in many cases, dehumanising¹. It says a strong and recurrent message is that while the purpose of PIP is widely recognised and valued, the process of accessing and maintaining support is often described as complex and demanding¹. The views expressed by respondents are not necessarily endorsed by DWP¹.

Why it matters for households

The call for evidence concerns Personal Independence Payment, a benefit paid to people with disabilities and long-term health conditions. The findings report describes how respondents say awards affect housing security, health and independence, and how rising living costs mean PIP is often used for essentials, limiting its ability to meet wider disability-related needs¹. It also records accounts of the process affecting wellbeing, with stress, anxiety and exhaustion reported, and in some cases existing conditions worsening¹.

The report sets out barriers respondents describe, including long forms, reliance on telephone communication, rigid deadlines and limited flexibility in how people can provide information, which it says create substantial barriers particularly for individuals with cognitive impairments, mental health conditions, neurodivergence or fatigue-related conditions¹. It also records concerns about assessments capturing a single point in time, inconsistency in decision-making, and outcomes varying across similar cases¹.

The breakdown of respondents is indicative only, and the report notes that access to advocacy and the ability to navigate and persist within the system are seen as influencing outcomes¹. The call for evidence forms part of the Review's wider evidence base and provides what the report describes as a uniquely large-scale and direct account of lived experience¹.

What happens next

The call for evidence closed on 28 May 2026 and the summary of findings report was updated on 9 July 2026¹. The report states that respondents proposed a wide range of suggestions and reflections relating to changes that could improve how PIP works, but it does not set out a timetable for the Review's conclusions or for any changes to PIP¹. No further dates for the Review have been reported in this document. For background on claiming and the assessment, see the site's guide to Personal Independence Payment and the benefits section.