DWP insults disabled people with steering group for Timms Review

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has appointed a 12-person steering group to the Timms Review and claims it has a range of lived experiences. However, the members are overwhelmingly southern, and the government has also included Jean-André Prager. Previously, and controversially, Prager called for the DWP to make PIP conditional for young people.

DWP: what is the Timms review?

The Timms Review is the review and consultation of Personal Independence Payment (PIP). It came about after the government failed to rush through cuts to PIP. This was because of pressure from disabled people, which caused MPs to rebel. It forced them to remove PIP entirely from the Universal Credit Bill.

This is despite overwhelming support for PIP staying exactly where it is, or even becoming more compassionate. Many responses pointed to the financial and mental health impacts of losing their PIP.

Lack of diversity

Now, the government has received only 340 applications to sit on the Timms Review Steering Group. Given that there are over 16 million disabled people in the UK, that number is embarrassing. It shows how little faith disabled people have in the process.

Additionally, the government has not disclosed which regions are represented in the steering group.

Previously, the DWP announced the members of the Independent Disability Advisory Panel (IDAP), including their locations. This included a severe lack of northern representation – leaving just one person to represent the whole of the North of England.

Quick LinkedIn searches for the newly appointed steering group members reveal that at least 7 of the 12 are based in London. Unsurprisingly, once again, there is only one in the north – in Newcastle.

This is despite the North East having the highest level of disability – 21.2% – and the second highest level of poverty – 25%.

Is there any wonder the government didn’t publish this information? 

Here we go again

To make matters worse, the government has appointed Jean Andre-Prager to the steering group.

He was previously the Prime Minister’s Special Adviser covering the DWP and is currently a Senior Fellow at the right-wing think tank, Policy Exchange.

Previously, he called for PIP to be made conditional for 16-30-year-olds. Of course, this bullshit and deeply flawed idea fundamentally misunderstands the purpose of the benefit – to aid with the extra costs of living with a disability. These do not magically appear when you hit 30. They are lifelong, and can drastically change the lives of young people.

A Policy Exchange report, which Andre-Prager led, stated:

Reform should also be based on the principles which underpinned the New Deal for Young People, first introduced in 1998, which compelled engagement via fulltime education, voluntary work or formal employment. The Government should refresh these concepts for the modern day.

This is a clear departure from the current purpose of PIP whose purpose is to meet some of the extra costs incurred by disabled people. However, given the rising claimant numbers – especially among young people with mental health challenges – we think this is a necessary step to encourage improved engagement with society. We suggest that DWP is still be able to opt individuals out of conditionality based on the severity of their condition. Coupled with this change, we would change the age where you can claim PIP to 18 (increasing it from 16) to better align with support provided.

It is ableist nonsense to even entertain the idea that young people with chronic illnesses and disabilities can just be cut out of vitally necessary support.

Disgraceful decision

Once again, we are seeing this government’s latest trend of punching down at neurodivergent and mentally ill young people.

Given Andre-Prager’s history of authoring this report, it makes sense that the DWP would appoint him. It’s very likely that he’ll bring these dangerous ideas to the steering group. But obviously, that suits Labour’s already clear intent on hammering young people.

His presence is perhaps the biggest indicator of what the review is actually there to do. As the Canary has repeatedly warned, the Timms review is a foregone conclusion. It exists only to support the DWP’s preconceived desire to cut PIP. The review clearly isn’t for listening to disabled people or groups. It’s to further stigmatise people who need support to survive.

Alarm bells should be ringing because this review does not have disabled people’s best interests at heart, and it never did.

Featured image via the Canary