More than 16,000 call on the UK government to fix PIP

Tuesday 3 November 2026

More than 16,000 people signed our petition calling on the UK Government to fix PIP for people with MS. And on 3 November, we handed it to the government.

Our Ambassador Janis Winehouse joined some of our campaigners and Neil Duncan-Jordan MP to head to the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) on Tuesday. Together, we delivered our Fix PIP petition and handed in over 16,000 signatures.

This is a significant moment for our campaign and a pivotal time for the future of PIP.

Every signature backs our call for a PIP system that recognises the realities of living with MS. And by coming together to hand in our petition, we've made that call even louder.

Our Ambassador, Janis Winehouse, reflected on why she joined the petition hand-in:

I know first-hand how debilitating, exhausting and unpredictable MS can be. 

PIP is supposed to help people with MS afford the essentials they need for everyday life, but instead people risk losing out on vital support. Lots of my friends have been through this exhausting process, and it needs to change. 

I'm proud to be delivering a message to the UK Government today, calling for a new PIP system built on fairness, dignity and respect.

What we're calling for

16,164 people are calling on the UK government to fix PIP by:

• embedding the PIP system with fairness, dignity and respect: introduce principles that embed fairness, dignity, respect, consistency and transparency across every stage of the PIP process.
• improving how fluctuating and invisible symptoms are assessed: introduce a flexible, person-centred approach that captures the reality of living with MS. And end inaccurate informal observations.
• changing how mobility is assessed: scrap the arbitrary 20-metre rule and replace it with an assessment based on whether people can complete essential daily tasks and live independently.
• ending unnecessary reassessments: offer lifetime awards as default for people living with long-term, progressive conditions like MS. Instead, replace compulsory reassessments with light-touch check-ins and stop reassessments for people with MS on the highest awards.

Campaign volunteer Sharon set out why these policy changes matter to people living with MS:

When you actually go through the PIP process, it really doesn't feel like anyone is listening to you or considering you as an individual or a person. We are people at the end of the day, who need help.

Why this moment matters

PIP needs to change.

The current system fails to reflect what it's really like to live with MS. People can be left feeling unseen and unheard, facing exhausting assessments and having to fight for the financial support they need.

We've been campaigning for a fairer PIP system for more than a decade. And we're seeing signs that our call is being heard. 

The Timms Review agrees that PIP needs to improve. And some of its draft recommendations are encouraging. They include better recognition of fluctuating and invisible symptoms, fewer unnecessary reassessments, and a fairer assessment process.

This is important progress. But their recommendations are not yet final and there is more to do for PIP to really work better for people with MS. As well as action on fluctuation and reassessments, there must be changes to the mobility criteria, including ending the 20-metre rule. This arbitrary rule can prevent people with MS from getting the support they need.

As the Review reaches its conclusion, over 16,000 of us have made it clear the changes we want to see. Now the Timms Review must make the right recommendations to fix PIP. 

Campaign volunteer Rob spoke about why he joined the hand-in:

I signed the petition because after 14 years of a failing system, we need something which is more robust and fit for purpose.

What's next?

The Timms Review's final recommendations are expected in the coming weeks. They'll be presented to parliament before the end of the year and we'll analyse them carefully when they come out.

Then, the government will consider how to respond and decide what changes to make to PIP. But we're not expecting any changes to be formally proposed until next year.

As we await the outcome of the Review, we're calling on the government to listen to people with MS and deliver meaningful change. 

Delivering our petition is a big milestone, but it's not the finish line

Ross Barrett, our Senior Policy Manager, explains:

Too often, an unfair and broken PIP process leaves people feeling unseen, unheard, demoralised. People with MS are forced to fight to be understood so they can access the support they are entitled to. 

When PIP fails, people face losing their independence and having to go without the essentials they need for daily life. Over 16,000 people have a strong message to send - the Timms Review is our chance to fix PIP. 

The Government must continue to listen to disabled people and follow through on their commitments to embed PIP with more fairness, dignity and respect.

This is the best chance we've had to fix PIP in over a decade. We know what needs to change. And we'll continue to campaign until we get those changes to fix PIP and make it fairer.

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