UK disability benefit review considers alternatives to cash payments

A major review of the Personal Independence Payment (Pip) in England and Wales is exploring alternatives to cash payments for some claimants, potentially including NHS treatments, specialized equipment, or employment support. The review acknowledges that while cash support remains vital for disabled people's extra living costs, the current assessment process is seen as "dehumanizing" and a barrier to work.

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We will not be moving away from the importance of that, but I think there is a question about whether the process can also point people towards help that may be valuable to them in addition to, or in some cases perhaps instead of, a cash payment.

The interim findings, led by Sir Stephen Timms, declared Pip "not fit for purpose." The benefit's cost is projected to exceed £41 billion by 2030, up from £15 billion in 2020, driven partly by a surge in claims for conditions like anxiety and ADHD since the Covid pandemic. Approximately 10 million working-age people, or 24%, report living with a disability, a significant increase from previous years.

Sharon Brennan, co-chair of the review, told the BBC that the current "blunt" yes-or-no assessment for cash payments needs to evolve. She emphasized a shift towards understanding individuals' needs and connecting them with support that enables them to live the lives they desire. Increasing workforce participation is also a key consideration for any reforms.

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At the moment, it's a very blunt process. It's a yes or no answer, do you get cash or not, and we're not really having conversations with people about what extra support they need to live the lives they want to live.

The Department for Work and Pensions stated that the review's final recommendations, due this autumn, will "lay the foundation for deep, sustainable reform." Sir Stephen indicated that the system could potentially direct individuals to appropriate health services or other forms of assistance, in addition to or in some cases instead of direct cash payments.

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Pip was not working for millions of disabled people and needs fundamental change.