Overview
- Dr Clenton Farquharson CBE and Sharon Brennan have been appointed as co-chairs alongside Minister Sir Stephen Timms to lead the first full review of Personal Independence Payment.
- An Expression of Interest has opened to recruit a 12-member steering group, with a majority of disabled people or representatives, for a four-week application window.
- The review’s Terms of Reference were updated to reflect changes in the Universal Credit Act and feedback from summer stakeholder engagement, with co-production set as a core approach.
- The review will test whether PIP’s eligibility, assessments and purpose match current disability realities and will explore digital transfer of NHS medical evidence to the DWP where consent is given.
- The government has pledged to delay any eligibility changes until the review concludes, with an interim update expected before autumn 2026, as disability charity Scope offers cautious support and urges genuine co-production.