No crude proposals on disability benefits, minister leading review says

**No Crude Proposals on Disability Benefits, Minister Leading Review Says** Sir Stephen Timms, the minister overseeing the review of the Personal Independence Payment (PIP), told the BBC that the interim reappraisal of the benefit system does not support any “crude proposals” for changing claimants’ payments. He explained that the study found the current appraisal process “not fit for purpose” and pledged a “fundamental change” to the system before the autumn. The review, commissioned last year by UK authorities, asked whether PIP was “fair and acceptable for the future.” The interim findings, released Thursday, conclude that the benefit is not adequately serving millions of disabled people and call for a sweeping overhaul of the appraisal strategy. Claimants have described the process as “dehumanising” and an obstacle to work. Sir Stephen highlighted the sustainability of PIP spending, noting that it is projected to exceed £41 billion by 2030. “We’ve recovered that it hasn’t kept pace with changing understandings of wellness and disability over the past 13 years since the payment was introduced, and truthfully we need a decisive alteration rather than mere deliberation,” he said. PIP is a payment for individuals with permanent illnesses or disabilities who require assistance with daily living and mobility. Eligibility is determined through an assessment in which claimants are scored on a scale of 0 to 12 based on tasks such as washing, dressing, and preparing food. As of April this year, there were 4,000 claimants entitled to PIP in England and Wales. The number of recipients has risen markedly since the payment’s introduction in 2013, driven by claims citing mental health conditions and other long‑term health issues.