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Cardiff in-person Timms workshop moved online over protest fears

Details

The Cardiff Timms review workshop due to be held on Friday 25 September has been moved online due to fears about protest and disruption. 

Last week, Benefits and Work informed readers that DPAC Cymru were organising protests against the “sham Timms review in Wales, where carefully managed workshops were due to take place.

The first protest was to be held outside the Cardiff & Vale College on 25 September, whilst a Timms review workshop was taking place inside.

However, participants have now received an email from the DWP telling them that the event will take place online using Microsoft Teams.

The DWP claim that “Unfortunately, following the venue’s concerns about the potential for disruption and/or protest around the event, Cardiff and Vale College has informed us that it is no longer able to host the workshop.”

 Benefits and Work understands that a protest will still be happening, though not necessarily at the same venue.  Further details when we have them.

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  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    D
    · 13 days ago
    https://dpac.uk.net/2026/09/timms-review-spends-1-million-on-sham-co-production-consultants/
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      rtbcpart2
      · 12 days ago
      @D Surprise! 
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    MB
    · 13 days ago
    Official information from DWP digital confidence states 16% of PIP disability-related benefit claimants do not access online services at all. The proposal of using Microsoft Teams is a flawed methodology. It undermines the validity of the final findings!!
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    Add
    · 15 days ago
    I’ve just read the pre course information  for the timms day, and sounds all wonderful. Looks like they want to treat everyone with respect, make it easier to claim, less reviews, utopia !!!
    Uuum I think there must be a sting in the tail !

    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      N.B.C
      · 14 days ago
      @Add I detect a hint of sarcasm in there somewhere 
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    D
    · 16 days ago
    https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/pip-changes-timms-review-dwp-benefits-labour-b3053459.html

    Apparently disabled have no power to stop pip reforms

    If burnham is thinking about a snap election then he may find disabled have a lot of capital that they aren’t willing to ‘spend’ on a party that has been smearing/throwing disabled under the bus these past 2 years
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      Terry T
      · 13 days ago
      @Dr Wendy Morrison. I can see where you are coming from Dr ,but there is a difference. State Pension is a contributory Benefit(depends directly on NI record) whilst PIP is not. Tax is also paid if pensioners have other pensions as it is classed as income in tax allowances. PIP is tax free . There are ,of course ,12 million pensioners in the UK so it is logic the bill is higher. We should never work against each other but work together. 
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      N.B.C
      · 15 days ago
      @Ab How did you figure that one considering we don't seem to have all that much to lose with all the persecution going on.
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      Dr Wendy Morrison.
      · 15 days ago
      @D In the report it states that PIP is the largest benefit being claimed. This is not true the state pension is, this too is a benefits under the welfare umbrella and triple lock with this benefit is costing the country the most amount of money. It is easier to villifly disabled, mentally ill, neurodivergent, chronically ill and young people than address the state pension spiralling costs. 

      This could be easily be resolved by making the state pension means tested as I personally know colleges in the medical industry who are wealthy have numerous pension pots, generational wealth and assets and still claim a state pension. 
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      Ab
      · 15 days ago
      @D Well that’s fair enough, but a protest vote would be like turkeys voting for Christmas.
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    Jon
    · 16 days ago
    Peter Fonagys been on the BBC.
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    D
    · 17 days ago
    https://www.theguardian.com/society/2026/sep/20/adults-severe-mental-illness-more-likely-die-earlier-diseases-cancer-nhs-data

    They also mention the upcoming recommendation that adhd and autism should be treated more ‘holistically’ (I personally wouldn’t class adhd & autism as a severe mental illness themselves - though both disability’s have a predisposition/increased chance of suffering from significant mental health issues as a ‘knock on effect’ of many neurodiverse disabilities)

    The reality is that in some ways conditions like autism are even more difficult to function in society than some visible physical conditions as many of the press/public have directed their ‘pitchforks’ specifically at the invisible’trendy sounding’ disabilities.

    I will repeat that if the gov want more adhd and autistic individuals to work then they have to address the societal hostilities first and that won’t be a short task


    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      Paddy
      · 16 days ago
      @D Hi. Autism and ADHD are classed as ‘mental health’ because that is the division the governmental health use to class it for treatment etc. 

      It is neurological in origin. It’s not an ‘illness’. It’s as much as being left-handed is an illness. 
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      JBob1234
      · 17 days ago
      @D "diagnostic overshadowing” – where physical symptoms are wrongly attributed to mental illness – means potential illnesses are not always properly investigated and treated"

      So all honest mistakes. No mention of doctors being prejudice and failing in their duty of care. Because that is the reality in my experience. 
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    N.B.C
    · 18 days ago
    Does all this mean we're up the creek anyway coz it doesn't help people's sanity all this unknown.
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    WorkshyLayabout
    · 18 days ago
    This has nothing to do with this news, but I have a warning.

    I got an email from Universal Credit telling me to log into my UC account because there was something in my to-do list, and my money would stop if I didn't do the to-do.

    It was to confirm my personal details, bank details, who I live with, etc., was up to date. 

    It would be a wise idea to check your UC account, just in case. We all know how willing the DWP are to cut our money. 
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      Pixelmum
      · 16 days ago
      @Anon N Thanks for taking the time to explain, it's good to know
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      Pixelmum
      · 16 days ago
      @WorkshyLayabout
      I wondered exactly the same...

    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      Anon N
      · 17 days ago
      @WorkshyLayabout Hey WorkshyLayabout what you got is a new automated claimant review primarily aimed at groups who don’t have contact with work coaches just to check details are up to date as you’ll be surprised how many people don’t log into their journals if they don’t have to (normally the LWCRA group!) 
      This isn’t a trick and certainly not being targeted (although I understand you’re sceptical and feel like it!) they were introduced in July 2025 with approximately 7000 claimants being contacted every 2 weeks so you can imagine how long it’s taking to get round to everyone. 
      Expect one annually now, so it’s nothing personal, although it is frightening having a message to log into your journal if you aren’t expecting any contact. Induces anxiety and all sorts. 
      The DWP haven’t been transparent about it, a quick text or email to explain to claimants would’ve been nice but a quick google will allay any fears, and you’ll see it’s new and normal to be asked to do this. 
      Perhaps B&W could put something up to let claimants know??? But well done to you for bringing it to light on here. Wishing you well. 
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      WorkshyLayabout
      · 17 days ago
      @Pixelmum Interesting. I was wondering whether I was just an unlucky one off or the DWP is playing this trick on everybody.
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      Pixelmum
      · 17 days ago
      @WorkshyLayabout I am appointee for my son and got the same message for his UC account.
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    rookie
    · 19 days ago
    The protests should go ahead anyway, to keep up the profile.
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    Mick
    · 19 days ago
    I hope anyone who attends these workshops goes there bold as brass and gives them both barrels.  Do not stick to their dictated script or narratives.  Tell them how it really is and make it clear how disgusting this whole thing is!

    I wish I could attend, they wouldn't like it if I did, I can tell you that with certainty.

    I wonder if the venue really said this or if that's lies and they pulled out because of bad publicity or reputational damage.  Or was it actually the DWP cancelled it because they knew there was going to be protests but are lying and trying to blame the venue?
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    Marc
    · 19 days ago
    That should really tell them everything they need to know about how the public feel about this review, they weren't consulted, and now they're making their voices heard.

    Should be pretty clear this report, once done, should just be tossed in the bin.
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    Wayne
    · 19 days ago
    The dwp r there own worst enemy they should be scrapped and scrap uc and just give people one payment for everything so much paperwork for everything all bullshit 
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    Paul B
    · 19 days ago
    If you believe that these workshops are just  window dressing to try to pretend the Timms review is being co-produced with disabled people when it very clearly isn't, then the fact that they are having to move online because of protests by ... disabled people, is probably not such a bad outcome.
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    Dbp100
    · 19 days ago
    Typical, it would be bad PR for Timms and the government's agenda to have protestors outside so they simply get rid of the entire thing, how convenient, no bad press photos to make this sham of a workshop look bad. 
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    B
    · 19 days ago
    Poor planning by the DWP. The exact same thing happened in Cardiff last year.

    The DWP need to ask themselves why they can't organise a workshop anywhere in Wales without determined protests from the disabled people they are supposedly "co-producing" it with.

    I was sortitioned too and an online meeting is less than ideal but if its anything like last year, the Government has already made up its mind.
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    Anon
    · 20 days ago
    Maybe it’s for the best this site doesn’t advertise the protests? They’ll just do the same time and time again! They’re trying their best to silence our voices! 
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    AB
    · 20 days ago
    I am not pleased about this, as I was due to attend. I hate online meetings, simply not the same.

    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      Bob
      · 11 days ago
      @AB I’m in constant pain with my illness and find it extremely difficult to handle all their crap, please tell them to put a senior medical person in charge of our cases and if they can’t fix us bloody well leave us alone,  sorry for the language but it’s all to much

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