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Current personal independence payment (PIP) claimants and other interested parties are being invited to apply to test “emerging recommendations” for changes to the benefit by joining online and in-person workshops.  A maximum of just 300 participants will have an opportunity to give their opinions on whatever the proposed changes may be.

In a press release published this morning, the DWP announced that fifteen workshops that “will help shape recommendations for the future” of PIP are to be held online and in-person across the UK.

The workshops mark a new stage in the Timms Review. Rather than asking participants to identify problems with the existing PIP system, the review says they will be asked specifically to discuss and refine recommendations which are now being developed.

The workshops are aimed primarily at disabled people and people with long-term health conditions.  However, carers, family members of disabled people and support workers are all eligible to register their interest in taking part. No previous experience of taking part in government reviews is required.

With fifteen workshops and a maximum of 20 participants on each, it means that the Timms Review will consult a maximum of 300 participants about "emerging recommendations" which may profoundly affect the lives of millions of disabled people.

The review will also be contacting disabled people’s organisations, charities and MPs to “test and refine its emerging recommendations”.

Co-Chair of the review, Dr Clenton Farquharson, said:  “I would encourage anyone with experience of applying for or receiving PIP to register their interest in taking part. The purpose of these workshops is not simply to hear people’s experiences, but to test the Review’s emerging recommendations against real lives and understand what could make them fairer, clearer and work better in practice.”

The review claims that selection of applicants will be done randomly, but go on to clarify that “the steering group will review and ensure the people chosen represent a balanced range of characteristics. Where a particular characteristic is under-represented, applicants with that characteristic will be identified from the wider applicant pool and selected at random to fill any gaps.”

Reasonable adjustments will be made for participants.

Travel costs and other necessary expenses, such as the cost of a personal assistant will be met.

Participants will also be offered a one-off payment.  However, whilst the review group say participation will not be considered to be work for benefits purposes, any one-off payment will be treated as earnings and could affect any means-tested benefit entitlement, depending on your individual circumstances. It will not affect entitlement to PIP, as PIP is not means-tested. Participants can ask not to be paid or ask for a lower amount.  The group advise potential participants to speak to their work coach or office that administers your benefits before signing-up.

There is a form to complete if you wish to take part, which is largely contact and monitoring details.  The DWP says information provided in the application will be kept confidential and will not be linked to any other DWP records.

Each workshop lasts from 10am to 4pm, with regular breaks, and will have a maximum of 20 participants.

The workshop dates are as follows: 

Registration for the workshops opened on Wednesday 12 August 2026 at 10am and closes on Friday 21 August 2026 at 5pm.

You can read the guidance page on registering your interest here.

You can register your interest here.

You can read the DWP press release here