Personal Independence Payment: Timms Review16 July 2026 The Timms Review of Personal Independence Payment (PIP) has published its Interim Report. This report shares what the Steering Group has heard so far from disabled people, charities and health organisations across the UK. It does not contain any final recommendations yet, but it gives us a good idea of the issues being discussed. At NRAS, we have contributed to the Review and the consultation. In June, we ran a workshop with people living with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) and people who support them. We have also heard from a number of other people outside of this process. We have ensured that the voices of people living with inflammatory arthritis are heard. Why is the Timms Review important? The Government have been looking at ways to reduce the overall cost of benefits for the last year and a half. Last year they were unsuccessful in trying to amend the eligibility criteria. PIP is designed to help people with the extra costs of living with a disability or long-term health condition and estimates show that the cost of PIP to the Government will significantly increase over the next 5-15 years. The review team says that while many people value PIP and rely on it, they have heard concerns that the current system is not working as well as it should. The review is looking at how PIP can become fairer, easier to access and better able to meet people’s needs. What did we hear from people living with RA? PIP helps people stay independent Everyone in our workshop said that PIP plays an important role in their lives. They use it in different ways, including paying for: Taxis and transport Mobility vehicles Heating bills Cleaning and gardening help Specialist footwear and equipment Physiotherapy and counselling Food deliveries and ready meals during flares Private healthcare when NHS support is limited Many people said the flexibility of PIP is very important. The costs of living with RA can change from week to week, especially during a flare. Having that extra support helps people stay safe, independent and connected to family, work and their community. Fluctuating and invisible conditions are not always understood One of the strongest messages from our workshop was that the PIP system does not always recognise the reality of living with a condition like RA. People told us that it can be difficult to explain: Fatigue Pain Brain fog Flare-ups Good days and bad days The impact of living with more than one health condition The Interim Report highlights similar concerns. The review team says it has heard questions about whether the current assessment properly reflects the experiences of people with fluctuating and less visible conditions. Applying for PIP can be stressful Our workshop participants described the application process as stressful, exhausting and upsetting. It was suggested that it was more of a ‘lottery’ than something you could predict. Others felt the process started from a position of doubt, where they had to prove they were struggling instead of feeling believed and supported. These experiences match what the Timms Review has heard from many disabled people across the country. The Interim Report says that some people find the PIP process “dehumanising” and difficult to navigate. What could change? We have been told that anything could be changed. We know that they are looking at the initial application form, the assessment process, the length of award and even what the award could be for. People in our workshop suggested several ways the system could be improved: Making better use of medical evidence from specialists and healthcare teams. Improving understanding of conditions such as RA. Making forms easier to complete. Improving online systems for sending evidence. Giving longer awards for lifelong conditions that are unlikely to improve. Building a system based on trust, dignity and respect. Many participants felt that assessors should have a better understanding of fluctuating conditions and the impact of fatigue and pain on daily life. What happens next? The review team will continue gathering evidence over the coming months. It will then make recommendations to the Government in Autumn 2026. We expect that it will be at the same time as the Autumn Budget where financial decisions are made for the country. NRAS will continue to make your voice heard. We welcome the fact that the Interim Report recognises some of the challenges faced by people living with fluctuating and invisible conditions. The experiences shared by our members show why it is so important that any future changes to PIP take account of the realities of living with RA and JIA. We are pleased to have contributed to the Timms Review and will continue to work to ensure that the voices of people living with inflammatory arthritis are heard. We will keep our community updated as the review progresses and when the final recommendations are published later this year.