In Memoriam
Brian McArdle;
Brian was paralysed down his left hand side, blind in one eye and unable to speak properly. Yet he was declared fit for work. Brian collapsed of a heart attack because of the stress of losing his benefits.
Mark Mullins and Helen Mullins:
Mark and Helen Mullins were found lying side by side in their home after committing suicide together.They had been left destitute after Helen had her claim for benefit turned down,they had no food, no heating and no electric.
Richard Sanderson:
Richard Sanderson, of Southfields, south west London, committed suicide after receiving a letter from Wandsworth Council informing him his housing benefit would be cut by £30 a month.
Martin Rust,
Martin Rust, 36,a schizophrenic had his benefits cut and was ordered back to work.He left a note saying: “To those I love, I’m sorry. Goodbye.” Coroner William Armstrong said the DWP’s decision “caused distress and may well have had an adverse effect”, recording that Mr Rust had committed suicide while suffering from a treatment-resistant mental illness.
Craig Monk
Criag Monk. 43, was found hanging in his home, he had a a partial amputation of his leg and was described by his family as “vulnerable” he became depressed that his benefits had been cut.
Colin Traynor
Colin Traynor, who was a life long epileptic. He was assessed as fit for work, he appealed, but his parents say he became depressed and lost weight , he died less than four months later,the day after his death his parents found out he had won That appeal.
David Groves
David Groves, 56, died of a massive heart attack the night before his medical assessment as he sat at his computer and scoured the Internet for ways to raise cash in case he lost his entitlement.
Elaine Christian
Elaine Christian, 57, was found in a drain after walking out of her home. A post mortem revealed she had died from drowning, despite having more than ten self-inflicted cuts on her wrists.The inquest in Hull was told Mrs Christian had been deeply worried about a meeting she was due to have to discuss her entitlement to disability benefits.
Christelle Pardo and Kayjah Pardo:
Christelle Pardo,32 and Kayjah Pardo 6 months, After having all her income cut off and her housing benefit withdrawn, and with a baby to care for, she had been left destitute. When she begged for help the only response from the DWP was that she didn’t qualify under the rules,So she killed herself and her young child.
Leanne Chambers:
Leanne, 30, body was found in the river weir five months after she walked out of her home she had battled depression for a number of years and had taken a turn for the worse after receiving a letter telling her she had to be assessed by a doctor she did not know, to see if she was fit to return to work.
Mark Scott:
Mark Scott, 46, who suffered from anxiety, epilepsy was left penniless when he was declared fit for work and his benefits were stopped.He died six weeks later in the Southport flat where he lived alone.
Karen Sherlock,
Karen died after a long and difficult fight, losing her benefits after being told she was fit for work, and after finally winning her appeal. Karen had diabetes with kidney complications.
Cecilia Burns,
Cecilia was a cancer sufferer, who had her benefits cut by government officials who said she was fit to work after she was assessed by government contractor Atos Healthcare.
Chris Cann,
Chris was a triple amputee who was wrongly declared fit for work died after being deemed ‘fit for work’.
Stephen Hill,
Stephen was declared fit for work, with the assessor declaring: “Significant disability due to cardiovascular problems seems unlikely.” Mr Hill died of a heart attack five weeks later. Read more into <a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/healthnews/9436969/Disability-tests-sending-sick-and-disabled-back-to-work.html">Stephen Hill`s</a> story.
Peter Hodgson,
Peter was a “VULNERABLE’ disabled man who took his own life felt pressurised by changes to the benefits system.
Paul Willcoxson
Paul had mental health issues and he took his own life because of stress and worrying about benefit cuts
George, from Chesterfield
Another Atos victim found fit for work collapsed and died of a heart attack, the day before another Atos medical. His widow is convinced the stress of claiming killed him
Unnamed: The story of a sister driven to suicide
Paul Turner
52yr old Paul dies of a heart attack just weeks after being found fit for work.
Christopher Charles Harness
Chris hang himself.
Carl Payne
Carl was 42 killed himself over fears of losing his meagre benefits.
Stephen Cawthra
55yr old Stephen killed himself after having his benefits stopped.
Frank Campbell
Frank had enough.
NOTE - The above list is ongoing and will be updated whenever a new DWP/Atos related death occurs. If I have forgotten to mention anyone, please leave me a comment with the details. Thanks
More DWP/ATOS related horror stories:
Eileen Nearne MBE
Eileen was a WWII spy tortured by the Nazis died penniless after her British pension was halted without explanation
Louise Davidson
Louise suffers from cystic fibrosis and is a lung transplant patient. She had her benefits cut from £130 to £21 and the DWP are taking back her mobility car because she was able to walk from one side of a room to the other.
Gary Stirling
Gary suffers from PTSD, found fit for work had benefits cut, is about to be made homeless and is now surviving thanks to food bank.
Ruth Anim
Ruth has learning difficulties, a heart problem and epilepsy. A work capability test by Atos said she should prepare for a job.
Tony Harris
Tony, who is registered blind, has been found "fir for work" after making "good eye contact" at an Atos WCA.
Christian Dalley
Christian has had 2 lobotomies after suffering severe brain damage as a result of a bike accident. He has been found "fit for work" twice by Atos paper-pushers and twice won on appeal.
Andrew Clegg
Andrew has spinal damage and is in constant pain but Atos has been found "fit for work" and he is likely to lose all his benefits.
Lisa Egan
Lisa has mobility impairment and chronic health problems but now, due to the stress, is also depressed. “The fear of ‘I can’t get this done in time, they're going to stop my money’ is pretty rough," says Lisa. "My depression has definitely been made worse by the whole experience. Sitting there with the form in your hand to beg for ‘taxpayers’ money’ to fund your burdensome existence makes it really hard to find any reason to not just give up.”
Daniel Mann*
Daniel had two brain injuries left him visually impaired and largely unable to walk or use his arms. He was left without food or money for bills thanks to DWP "left not knowing what right is doing". *Name changed
Deborah Kelly
Deborah has cognitive and physical problems. She says: “Being turned down is a bit like facing an accusation, If you’ve said you need this help and they say you don’t, they’ve as good as said you’re lying. I’ve not had the energy, physically, mentally and emotionally, to fight it.”
NOTE - The above list is ongoing and will be updated whenever a new DWP/Atos related horror story occurs. If I have forgotten to mention anyone, please leave me a comment with the details. Thanks
RELATED BLOGS:
➯Die Pleb Die!
➯How To Annoy Box-Ticking Bureaucrat Bullies By Sir Patrick Moore
