Exclusive: Landmark review by disability minister will call for ‘dehumanising’ assessment system to be redrawn
Disability benefits in England and Wales are “not fit for purpose” and the entire assessment system must be redrawn as part of a radical welfare overhaul, the government’s landmark review of personal independence payments will say. The Guardian understands the review will conclude that the points-based system of assessment is in effect worthless because of the rising number of new conditions – particularly relating to mental health – that can fluctuate considerably in severity. The review by the disability minister, Stephen Timms, which was commissioned in the aftermath of Keir Starmer’s U-turn on welfare cuts, will also conclude that the assessment process is dehumanising for disabled people and the system actively hinders people from seeking work. The Timms review has been prepared in collaboration with disabled people and charities and is expected to be released in two parts. The interim review of the system is expected this week, followed this autumn by recommendations on how the new system should be designed. The current system awards points on the basis of the severity of a condition for mobility and for daily living, such as washing and dressing. Campaigners have long argued that some parts of the system, such as points for navigating a route or planning a budget, may have been intended to capture learning disabilities but now cover some mental health conditions where the ability to do an activity may vary from day to day. The conclusions of the review make it likely that the government will not pursue using a harsher points-based system and instead will explore much more root-and-branch welfare reform. The Department for Work and Pensions declined to comment on the interim report. The review’s remit is not to find cuts, but its steering committee is not allowed to suggest changes that would increase the overall projected welfare spend.
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That's a feature, not a bug. It was deliberately designed like that to discourage claimants. If they persisted tests were demeaning, and quite frankly nonsensical. I suspect it's more or less the same in Scotland.


















