If you are having suicidal thoughts call the Samaritans on their free number 116 123
On 28 February, The Canary reported the case of a woman who claimed an assessor working on behalf of the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) asked her why she hadn’t killed herself yet.
During my #pip assessment I was asked why I hadn’t killed myself yet. This is standard, assessors regularly ask this question.
— Alice Kirby (@Alice__Kirby) February 24, 2017
Since we published that report, several people have approached us claiming the same thing happened to them. In this follow-up, we are publishing several of their testimonies. We have also spoken to Atos, the company which carries out assessments for the DWP. And in a separate report, we have discussed these claims with the President of the British Psychological Society, Peter Kinderman.
Several people contacted us with similar stories to Alice Kirby’s. Most have asked that we do not mention them by name. The majority of them said they feared it could affect their claims.
Alison:
I was asked by a woman at the Atos PIP interview: ‘Why haven’t you killed yourself yet?’ I remember it very clearly. I left the room in tears and had my PIP cut. I was too afraid to complain in case they took all the money off me.
read more here: https://www.thecanary.co/2017/03/07/more-people-come-forward-in-the-dwp-kill-yourself-scandal/
David Brown, 18 was under ‘immense pressure’ from the Department of Work and Pensions who were going to stop benefits unless he did more to find work as welder. A football fan who desperately wanted a job took his own life after being ‘belittled’ by Job Centre staff, his inquest heard. David Brown, 18, seeking […]
Stop-PIP.org – episode 1. The DWP need to know what they are doing to people.
Source: I got my letter through, it just pressed a switch, and I attempted to kill myself
Originally posted on DWPExamination.: Jennifer tried to commit suicide after the DWP threatened to stop her benefits. JENNIFER told how she tried to commit suicide after the DWP threatened to stop her benefits. She said: “I got my letter through and it just pressed a switch an I attempted to kill myself. “With the old…
The increasing death toll due to the loss of benefits
This is an updated list of the people who we know to have died as a result of their benefits being taken away. This is only the people whose families have come forward or who have had benefit losses noted by a coroner as responsible for their death.
If you are feeling suicidal yourself, I advise you not to read this list. Contact the Samaritans on their free phone number 116 123
Source: The increasing death toll due to the loss of benefits
The government has secretly made major changes to guidance given to “fitness for work” benefits assessors that has put the lives of thousands of disabled claimants at risk… and then “lied” about what it had done.
The changes appear to show ministers made a calculation last year that it was worth risking the loss of some lives in order to cut benefits spending and force more disabled people into their discredited back-to-work programmes.
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) could now face legal action over its decision to bring in the changes without seeking approval from parliament.
read more here: http://www.disabilitynewsservice.com/dwp-issued-guidance-that-made-suicides-more-likely-then-lied-to-cover-its-tracks/
