Crude cuts to disability benefits are not expected, the minister said

The disability benefits review is not expected to make “refined proposals” for changes to claimants’ pay, the minister who led the report said.

Sir Stephen Timms told the BBC that an interim review of Personal Freedom Payments (PP) said the benefit was “not fit for purpose” and promised “fundamental change” to recommendations in the autumn.

In the year The disability minister said the “sustainability” of spending on benefits, which is predicted to grow to more than £41bn by 2030, “will be a concern as we come to these decisions”.

Last year the UK government asked Sir Stephen Pip to review whether it was “fair and fit for the future”. The first report will be published on Thursday.

The interim report suggests that PIP is not working for millions of disabled people or the government, and that a complete overhaul of the assessment system is needed.

In evidence submitted to the review, Pip petitioners described the review process as “dehumanizing” and a barrier to employment for disabled people.

The report shows a significant increase in the number of PIP recipients in recent years and a forecast of spending on benefits.

Pip is a benefit that people with long-term illness and disability can claim if they need help with the extra costs of living, working and caring.

Eligibility for pipe is determined by assessment.

Under the current assessment system, applicants are scored on a scale of zero to 12 by a health professional on daily tasks such as washing, dressing and preparing meals.

Speaking to the BBC, Sir Stephen Pipp said: “It does a very important job in helping people meet the additional costs of disability.”

But the ministry said disabled people told the review the assessment was “degrading” and “could prevent you from participating in society”.

“We have found that the benefit has not kept pace with changes in health and disability over the 13 years since it was introduced, so we think fundamental change is needed,” said Sir Stephen.

In April this year, there were nearly four million claimants in England and Wales entitled to PIP.

In the year The number of PIP recipients has risen sharply since the benefit was introduced in 2013, a rise that has been fueled by claimants citing mental health conditions in recent years.