In 2025, the UK Government proposed changes to Personal Independence Payments (PIP), raising concerns about the potential impact on people with physical and mental ill-health, neurodivergent people, and people with learning disabilities. For many, these changes could threaten their independence and increase the risk of financial hardship.
PIP is a non-means-tested benefit that supports people with long-term health conditions or disabilities who need help with daily living or mobility. Many people rely on this financial support to cover essential costs such as transport to medical appointments, getting to work, mobility aids, home adaptations, and other everyday needs that enable independent living.
The proposed reforms received backlash from organisations supporting disabled people, who raised concerns that the changes could be unfair and may marginalise those who do not fit strict assessment criteria. In response, the government launched the Timms Review, led by Sir Stephen Timms. The review is gathering evidence from people with lived experience of disability to help shape and develop the proposed changes.
The review is exploring how PIP works, how assessments are carried out, and whether the support provided is fair and meets people’s needs.
As an organisation that has supported people with physical and mental ill-health, neurodivergent people, and people with learning disabilities for over 30 years, we have gathered evidence from our peer support groups and individual interviews to submit to the government, ensuring their voices are heard.
Suzi Henderson, CEO of Cloverleaf Advocacy said: “PIP is a lifeline for many of the people we support. While we understand the current system may not be perfect and there may be a minority who misuse it, removing this support or creating further barriers to people who already often feel marginalised, could have a devastating impact on those who genuinely rely on it. We hope the Timms Review carefully considers the evidence we have shared and uses it to create a system that is fairer, more accessible and truly reflects the real experiences of people it is designed to support.”
Read our Timms Review evidence here: Campaigns – Cloverleaf Advocacy
