Is the Timms review struggling to even get off the ground?  We already know that the review is surrounded by secrecy, but Benefits and Work has now been informed that it is also mired in confusion as Timms tries to work out how to recruit members.

It had been assumed that Timms had spent the summer sounding out organisations to see who would be willing to sit on his review committee, before making a start on the review this month.

However, Benefits and Work has now been informed, though we are not able to independently confirm this, that Timms has yet to even finally decide how to go about recruiting members.

According to our source, Timms is now planning to have 12 members on the review committee, plus himself.  People will have to apply to become part of the committee but Timms is aiming to have one of the chairs of the Regional Stakeholders Network (RSN) co-chair the review with him, to give it an air of independence.

The RSN is made up of nine regional networks of:

  • local disabled people
  • parents and carers of disabled people
  • disabled people’s representative organisations 

 Their role is to ensure that “the voices and views of disabled people across England are at the heart of the work of the UK government.”

The chairs are all appointed by the Minister for Social Security and Disability . . .  currently the Rt Hon Sir Stephen Timms.

But it isn’t just attempting to appear impartial that is a problem for the review.

The biggest difficulty that the Timms review is facing is that it is now trying to do a job it was never intended to do. 

Originally, the important work of slashing the disability benefits bill was to be done by the PIP 4-point rule.  Timms role was mainly to work out how the PIP assessment could be used to replace the work capability assessment when it was abolished.  Any other changes to the PIP scoring system which had the effect of cutting awards to different groups would have been a bonus, from the government’s point of view, but not crucial. 

And there was no rush, with the WCA not due to be abolished until 2028/29.

However, the 4-point rule was killed off in the Commons at the very last minute and the government was also forced into agreeing that the Timms review should be co-produced. 

Which means the Timms review has to somehow square the circle of appearing to genuinely involve disabled people in positive changes to the PIP eligibility and assessment rules, whilst also achieving Labour’s – now unspoken - ambition of cutting the cost of disability benefits.

And it has to do it fast.  The results are now supposed to be in the hands of the secretary of state and ready to be actioned by Autumn 2026.

It is an impossible task and, if it is true that the review is already floundering, it’s no surprise.

But, we have no confirmation that these rumours are correct.  So, if there’s anyone out there with inside knowledge who wants to set us straight, we’d be very happy to hear from you confidentially.

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  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    · 19 days ago
    The NE RSN is defunct because members realised all the messages are controlled by DWP.
    I manage a Charity, was a core member of the NE RSN from inception and sent regular briefings on what was really going on in the NE. No-one responded.  
    I warned of purposeful, malicious, harmful behaviour by DWP against 2 beneficiaries that could end badly.  No-one responded.  A person died being hounded by an assumption and DWP ignored medical evidence.  To this day, whoever is leading DWP is irrelevant when civil servants can delete evidence that proves they are wrong and blame the PIP applicant.  Review forms are sent out 6-8months early so people become fearful.  The entire benefits programme has no duty of care towards seriously ill people.  
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    · 20 days ago
    I want to know who to write to to ask to be considered for this panel of PPI/lived experience panel of 10 so that I may report on my progress or not! Who is the best person or what is the best approach? I hVe done lots of searches but am unclear who to contact? Any advice welcome so I can feedback to you all. Thanks 
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    · 20 days ago
    Do you know what. 
    I’m sick and tired reading about what successive governments are got to do to stop us Disabled people of claiming Pip. 
    Pip is my only Benefit. 
    I’m 74, a woman a retired Nurse, who worked all my working life. I have severe spinal problems iv had a spinal fusion in 1996, it’s broken down, several procedure to try to help with pain since. Countless pain relief pain patched. Cannot walk any distance. I have Asthma and now suffer with Severe sleep Apnea. Artheritis I’m many joints including ankles. And the list goes on. 
    WHY do we constantly have to endure  the stress and anxiety of all this happening every time we get a. New goverment. When like McFadden they line their own pockets. 
    We as Disabled people are being tortured, struggling to put food on the table and pay bills. 
    When they all live in Comfort they are warm they eat well. Life of luxury. 
    The wages they earn and the want more. They should be taken to court for Discrimination of a minority group. Us Disabled people. 
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 12 days ago
      @Ann Howe Good luck Anne in your case I would suggest most definitely you would get AA but of course the struggles go on  keep fighting and stick together 
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    · 24 days ago
    Farage said previously that job seekers had 4 months to get a job or take a job after two offers from employers.
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 21 days ago
      @Dave Dee True
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 23 days ago
      @RookiesUncle We have to differentiate the difference between "fit for work" jobseekers and those "unfit for work" on health elements of the Universal Credit. 
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    · 24 days ago
    This sounds cautiously like good news to me. The more delay the better.
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    · 24 days ago
    They linking skills with works and pensions I believe the majority of Sick and disabled Will have a duty to engage that's what I read some time last year hmmm
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    · 24 days ago
    McFadden is no better than Kendall in policy terms, but he does achieve the seemingly impossible feat of being an even bigger charisma vacuum than Kendall, so he won't be winning over many Labour MPs or the public to the merits of whatever cuts he wants to make with his magnetic personality. 
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 20 days ago
      @tintack Lol. He's a complete hard faced cyborg who is a ruthless Starmerite hatchet man. It goes to show how completely out of touch this government is.
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    · 24 days ago
    Pat Mc Fadden is the new works and Pension Secretary. Kendall now Science Secretary. HMM Wonder what this will mean now for disabled people ?.
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    · 24 days ago
    Dunno which is the less of the two evils Kendall was like a rottweiler don't think McFadden going to be much better 
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    · 24 days ago
    Pat McFadden taking over Liz Kendall he was all for the benefit cuts oh dear 
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      · 24 days ago
      @Charger 7 I don't think we can take those kinds of comments he made as what he actually thinks.  Don't get me wrong, they might be.  But cabinet ministers have to repeat the party line.  The only way he could have said he was against them was by resigning. 
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    · 24 days ago
    If any Reform fans were still under the illusion that Farage is on our side, see this:

    https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c4g75we8jk9o
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 20 days ago
      @Gingin He's never been on our side

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      · 20 days ago
      @Gingin I can't see it myself. Reform will be getting more and more like the Conservatives and Labour, going by how many of their politicians are defecting to the party.
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 21 days ago
      @tintack Thanks Tintack yes it's hard to know why this happens. Us humans are curious critters!
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      · 21 days ago
      @pollenpath It would be great if that was the case!  Interesting/different perspective things pollenpath.
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      · 21 days ago
      @The Dogmother Thanks The DogMother I hope both those things go as well as possible. I am due for a going over for my UC work capability (it's very late....) very difficult handling all the stress. Wishing you all the best with it.  Interesting that you've worked out who you're down voter is! 
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    · 25 days ago
    Does anyone know if there is a way to submit questions / comments to the Timms Review? Or is it just the chosen 12 that are allowed to do this?
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 24 days ago
      @HL I don't know.  Certainly I wrote to the committee that was looking into the white paper, and my evidence got included in the finished publication.  Can we do the same here?  And can we submit FOI requests about the way the review is working? 
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