DWP PIP Timms Review co-chairs update on “progress” — spoiler there is none

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has given an update on the progress of the Timms Review. And as expected, it’s a load of bluster to cover up the fact that they’ve done sweet fuck all.

The Timms Review: the bullshit story so far

The Timms Review began in the summer of 2025, as the minister for disabled people’s last-ditch attempt to push benefit cuts through. This successfully quelled the Labour MP rebellion, caused by disabled people campaigning.

Now, unfortunately for Timms, he has to actually go through with it. And just like everything the DWP does, it’s dripping with incompetence.

Timms has spent a good chunk of the last few months umming and awwing over how he can make it look like the review is co-produced with disabled people. It took until 30 October 2025 for them to appoint disabled co-chairs.

At the same time, they quietly released the terms of reference which, while seemingly aimed at placating disabled people, confirmed that all PIP recipients will be at risk by DWP decisions.

Finally, an update – or so we thought

Since then, we’ve not really heard anything. So it was seemingly good that the co-chairs sent out an update, albeit late on a Tuesday night (13 January 2026). 

The update, written by Timms along with disabled co-chairs Sharon Brennan and Dr Clenton Farquharson, is framed as an effort for transparency. But I suspect it’s so that disabled people stop asking wtf is actually happening.

They say that they share a focus on ensuring the Review is ready to go in the New Year…which is now. The co-chairs claim this is being done with:

• a clear co-production process
• an agreed plan of action aligned to the Review timetable
• a strong induction programme to ensure steering group members are supported, prepared, and empowered in their roles

However, we aren’t provided with any actual updates on any of these things. Because, of course, we aren’t.

Tick tock, the New Year is here

On the steering committee, the letter simply restates that they are creating a steering committee. A reminder this is 10 whole people and they don’t even have to all be disabled. However the update boasts about “most” of them being affiliated with the DWP.

This is central to our commitment that disabled people will be at the heart of the Review throughout its duration and recognises the essential role that DPOs play in amplifying disabled people’s voices.

The expression of interest received just 340 applications, which isn’t surprising. I expect many disabled people didn’t want to be complicit in the destruction of their community.

They still haven’t chosen the committee, but will be narrowing it down soon. Plenty of time lads — the review isn’t due until Autumn.

Co-production, apparently

Co-production also doesn’t get much of an update. Apparently, it is happening, though we don’t know who by:

we are in the process of commissioning an external organisation to help and support design and facilitate the co-production programme.

They do “reassure” us that it won’t just be the steering group though, so that’s nice.

We do get a tiny bit of a timeline, though not much.

We anticipate:

• an informal introductory call with the steering group in the coming weeks
• induction sessions in January 2026
• the beginning of deeper co-production and policy work from February onwards

Timms review: another tick box exercise from the DWP

When so much of the Timms review is still unclear, what’s crystal is that this is going to be a tick box exercise. The DWP will never actually care about disabled people, so this would be a lot less patronising if they quit while they were behind.

The chairs say this is the first of a series of updates to be published. Let’s hope the rest of them actually give us some new information. They’ve only got nine bloody months after all.

Featured image via the Canary