benefit deaths

Benefits and Poverty

A banner showing the deaths of people due to sanctions and benefit cuts

September 20, 2018 0

DWP’s secret benefit deaths reviews: Investigations into deaths double in two years

The number of secret reviews carried out by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) into deaths linked to benefit claims appears to have doubled in the last two years, according to figures the information watchdog has forced the government to release. The figures relate to the number of internal process reviews (IPRs), investigations

Benefits and Poverty

Hundreds of white flowers lying on grass

September 20, 2018 0

DWP’s secret benefit deaths reviews: Universal credit death linked to claimant commitment ‘threats’

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A secret Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) review into the death of a claimant of universal credit (UC) has criticised the “overtly threatening” nature of the conditions they had to accept when signing up to the new benefit system. The conclusion by a panel of civil servants relates to just one of 33

Activism and Campaigning

A group of about 20 people stand sit together behind a table

September 13, 2018 0

Hope for major social security ‘brutality’ campaign after ‘breakthrough’ Labour meeting

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Many of the disabled activists who have played a key role in exposing the harm caused by the government’s social security cuts and reforms have come together for a “breakthrough” campaign meeting attended by five Labour shadow ministers. Labour’s shadow chancellor John McDonnell, who chaired the meeting, said afterwards that he believed that it

Benefits and Poverty

August 23, 2018 0

DWP breaks law over secret reports on universal credit deaths

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The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) is refusing to release evidence that would show how many secret reports it has compiled into the deaths of claimants of its new universal credit, in a fresh breach of freedom of information laws. DWP compiles an internal process review every time a “suicide is associated with

Benefits and Poverty

Paul Litchfield giving evidence to a Commons committee

July 19, 2018 0

Four opposition parties demand DWP answers over WCA deaths ‘cover-up’

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Two opposition parties are writing urgent letters to work and pensions secretary Esther McVey – while a third is demanding an investigation – about a possible cover-up over documents linking the “fitness for work” test with the deaths of benefit claimants. Senior figures from both Labour and the Liberal Democrats said this week that

Benefits and Poverty

June 28, 2018 0

DWP’s ‘fitness for work’ reviewer handed CBE after refusing to speak out on benefit deaths evidence

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An occupational health expert has been recognised with a high-ranking honour just weeks after refusing to say if he was shown vital documents linking the government’s “fitness for work” test with the deaths of benefit claimants. Dr Paul Litchfield was asked in early April if the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) had shown

Benefits and Poverty

May 31, 2018 0

DWP ‘has no record’ of whether it showed WCA death documents to reviewer

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The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) claims it has no record of whether it showed vital documents linking its “fitness for work” test with the deaths of benefit claimants to the expert it hired to review the assessment. Even though DWP possesses the documents, it is claiming it holds no information in its

Benefits and Poverty

Esther McVey giving evidence to the social security committee

April 19, 2018 0

Mother of ESA suicide mum-of-nine praises activist for confronting McVey

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The mother of a woman who killed herself after her disability benefits were sanctioned has praised a disabled activist who confronted work and pensions secretary Esther McVey about her daughter’s death as she gave evidence to Scottish MSPs this week. The activist, David*, had told Joy Dove of his plans to question McVey about

Benefits and Poverty

April 19, 2018 0

Mother of ESA suicide woman pledges to continue fight for justice

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The mother of a woman who killed herself after being wrongly found “fit for work” has pledged to continue her campaign for justice, and for the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) to admit it was to blame for her daughter’s death. The case of mother-of-nine Jodey Whiting, from Stockton, was highlighted this week

Benefits and Poverty

Long windows on the front of the Department of Health and Social Care offices in Whitehall

December 14, 2017 0

Department of Health silence over failure to highlight ESA suicide risk

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The Department of Health (DH) has refused to say why it failed to warn NHS bodies and other local services that claimants of out-of-work disability benefits are at a hugely-increased risk of attempting to take their own lives. DH published the latest version of its national suicide prevention strategy in January this year. The

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