DWP urges disabled people to answer three questions about PIP | Personal Finance | Finance

Personal Independence Payments are currently under the microscope as part of the Timms Review, which aims to determine whether the disability benefit is “fair and fit for the future“. The review is set have its findings published later this year, with the potential to fundamentally transform the benefit and the lives of approximately 3.9 million people who currently claim it, officials believe.

Minister for Social Security and Disability, Sir Stephen Timms, who is also co-chairing the review, said: “Hearing from disabled people across the UK is vitally important to inform the Review. That is why we are co-producing this review with disabled people every step of the way – to make sure that PIP is truly fair and fit for the future.

“I encourage any organisation that is able to host a workshop to do so, because we need to hear the views and lived experience of as many disabled people as possible.”

Official resources have been compiled to assist organisations and communities in running workshops where disabled people will be invited to share their views and personal experiences, which will “shape” the review.

Three “key themes” will be questioned in the workshops:

While officials say the workshops have been specifically designed with disabled people in mind, organisations have been urged to adapt them for carers, advisers and other relevant parties with experience of PIP.

Co-chair Sharon Brennan said: “It is vital to the success of the review that we hear from as many people as possible about their thoughts on PIP, especially those whose voices are less heard such as those from marginalised communities or who are do not feel comfortable engaging with government-led consultations.

“We hope this new engagement method allows people to have conversations that matter with the organisations that they most trust so their lived experiences can shape the outcomes of our review.”

Organisations, charities, community groups and elected representatives will be able to host the sessions, and can register for an information session taking place later this week on how to run the ‘workshop in a box’.

Findings and responses gathered from the workshops must be submitted by July 17. The review team has additionally reached out to a “small number of organisations” considered to be working with groups less likely to engage with government research or public consultations.