The recommendations come from the Timms Review, which is examining how PIP should work in the future after concerns that the current system does not adequately support people with disabilities and long-term health conditions.
The proposals are not final and will be tested through workshops involving disabled people and people with long-term health conditions before the review reports to the secretary of state later this autumn.
PIP is currently claimed by nearly 4 million people in England and Wales. The benefit is designed to help cover extra costs linked to disability, including areas such as energy, transport and food, and is not dependent on whether someone is in work.
Proposed Changes Would Give Claimants More Options for Support
One of the emerging recommendations is that some PIP recipients could choose practical support instead of receiving part of their regular cash payment. This could include specialist aids, equipment, services, skills training or other forms of assistance designed around individual needs.
According to The Guardian, the committee behind the review believes PIP should provide a wider range of support to help people take part in everyday life, including work, care and volunteering. The committee said cash payments would remain the foundation of the benefit, while the new options would provide greater choice for those who want different forms of help.
The review does not propose removing the non-means-tested nature of PIP. It also does not examine reducing the current cost of the benefit, which is around £23bn a year, though the committee noted that any changes would need to operate within projected spending plans.
Other recommendations include creating a faster process for people with terminal illnesses to access PIP and reducing reassessments for people with lifelong or degenerative conditions. The committee also suggested reviewing rules that automatically suspend payments after someone has spent more than 28 consecutive days in hospital.
The Department for Work and Pensions said the proposals were not final recommendations. A spokesperson said the review would be considered by the secretary of state once completed and that the aim was to create a system that supports disabled people to live independent lives while remaining fair and sustainable.
Review Focuses on Improving the Experience of Disabled People
The Timms Review was established after previous government plans to reduce disability benefit spending were abandoned following opposition and a parliamentary rebellion in 2025. The interim report published in July found that PIP was no longer working effectively for many claimants.
According to The Guardian, the committee is made up of 12 expert advisers, with most having lived experience of disability or long-term health conditions. Its work has focused on improving how people experience the benefit rather than only examining spending.
The committee is also looking at issues such as fluctuating conditions, including some mental health problems, where claimants and campaigners have argued that assessments do not always reflect changes over time.
The emerging recommendations will be discussed during workshops across the UK in September and October 2026. According to the DWP, the workshops are intended to help shape the final recommendations with disabled people and people with long-term health conditions. There may be debate around introducing non-cash elements into PIP awards, but the Good Growth Foundation found that half of surveyed PIP recipients supported the idea of exchanging part of their payment for services such as training, home adaptations or therapy.
