The “Timms Review” of Personal Independence Payment (PIP) has published “emerging recommendations” regarding:

· improvements to the current benefit; and

· principles for a reformed benefiti.

Overall, the emerging recommendations contain much that is positive, reflecting the recent Timms Review interim report, which identified many issues that disabled people and their organisations have been raising for some yearsii.

There are also areas of concern, notably suggested “cost categories” that could over-simplify and underestimate the additional costs of disability.

The emerging recommendations say:

“Cost categories used to discuss the person’s circumstances, and therefore determine their award, could include equipment and aids; mobility and transport; clothing and bedding”.

But the additional costs of disability are extensive and not confined to specific equipment or aids. They include: additional energy requirements, due to extra heating and washing; additional shopping costs, due to restricted options, home deliveries or expensive diets; paying for help domestically, or for getting out and about; and transport costs. “Cost categories” sound very much as if they may omit or underestimate the real extra costs.

Additionally, many people find it hard to specify accurately what their extra costs are, particularly when they have needs which fluctuate over time. An approach requiring people to specify their extra costs would likely also increase the administrative burden of going through the claiming process.

The emerging recommendations also say:

“Some awards will also include services and offer other non-cash support”.

This raises many important questions. Would these be additional, or partly substitute for benefit? If the latter, would they be strictly optional? How would they interact with services and support which the claimant should be receiving anyway via the NHS or local authorities? How would their level be determined? How would their level be maintained over time?

All of this requires considerably more explanation.It is important to bear in mind that these are not the final recommendations; and that when the latter appear later this year, they will be made to the Government – they will not in themselves constitute Government policy. The key issue for disabled people will be how the Government responds.