At Merton CIL, we support Disabled people to have real choice and control over their lives. PIP is a key part of what makes that possible. We’ve therefore been watching this review closely, and we’re worried.
Last year, when a proposal emerged to restrict access to PIP through a new four-point rule, we joined with others across the country to push back. That plan was dropped and, with it, almost all of the £5 billion in ‘savings’ that the Government had planned to make. It was a victory.
But we can’t afford to be complacent. The pressure to cut disability benefits hasn’t gone away; it’s just changed shape.
The real cost of being Disabled
Being Disabled costs more. That’s not a complaint; it’s a documented fact. According to Scope’s Disability Price Tag 2025 report, Disabled households need, on average, an extra £1095 a month, just to have the same standard of living as non-Disabled households. It covers things like specialist equipment, accessible transport, higher energy bills, adapted clothing, and care – costs that non-Disabled households simply don’t face.
PIP was designed to help close the gap, but it doesn’t fully cover it. The average PIP payment is only £465 a month, leaving a £630 monthly shortfall, and by 2030, that shortfall is estimated to reach £704. For many Disabled people, it’s the difference between managing and not managing.
The system is already failing people
The argument for tightening eligibility assumes that too many people are receiving PIP. The evidence points the other way.
With around 3.5 million people receiving PIP, compared to an estimated 16 million people reporting a disability in the UK, the issue isn’t overprovision; it’s unmet need.
Furthermore, when people challenge the DWP’s decision to not grant an award, only around 22-25% of Mandatory Reconsiderations result in a changed decision, whereas 66% of tribunal appeals succeed.
That’s not a system with a generosity problem. That’s a system getting decisions wrong and forcing Disabled people, often already exhausted and under financial pressure, to spend months fighting to access support they were entitled to all along.
What the Government is really after
Despite the Minister saying the purpose of the Timms Review isn’t to save money, the Government hasn’t promised that no one will lose out. However this review plays out, any reduction in PIP support will push Disabled people further into poverty and put lives at risk.
What we want to see
The Timms Review should be about fixing what’s actually broken. It should result in:
- A process that’s accessible and doesn’t create additional barriers
- Assessments that reflect lived experience and get decisions right the first time
- An end to the culture of suspicion that makes applying for support so stressful
Now’s the time to speak up
The Call for Evidence is open until 28 May, which means that right now, Disabled people, carers, families and allies can still submit evidence. Every voice counts. The review reports to Parliament in Autumn 2026. What it recommends will affect millions of people, including people in our community, and possibly you or someone you care about.
Sign the petition. Respond to the Call for Evidence if you can. Make sure that you’re heard.
👉 Vote: Keep pushing the Government to protect sick and Disabled people