DWP urged to publish inquiries on benefit claimant suicides – Guardian Society
![The late David Clapson, who died in July after his benefit was cut [Image: change.org petition site].](https://voxpoliticalonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/141023DavidClapson.jpg)
The late David Clapson, who died in July after his benefit was cut [Image: change.org petition site].
The Department for Work and Pensions has been urged by mental health and disability charities to publish its secret investigations into suicides that may have some link to benefit changes, following revelations that it has carried out internal reviews into 60 such cases, according to The Guardian.
A Freedom of Information request by the Disability News Service has revealed that the DWP has carried out “60 peer reviews following the death of a customer” since February 2012. A peer review is triggered when suicide or alleged suicide is “associated with a DWP activity”, according to its internal guidance.
Despite growing concern over the way benefits are administered in relation to vulnerable individuals, and amid a number of reports of related deaths, the department told the Guardian it had no plans to publish the reviews.
Disabled People Against the Cuts said that, because of the way the reviews were carried out, the DWP figure was likely to be the “tip of the iceberg”.
The full article is on The Guardian‘s website but glynismillward189 adds:
The wheels grind exceedingly slow, but exceedingly fine.
60 people may be an insignificant figure to IDS and DWP, but behind that figure were real people with real families and friends who daily mourn those that the state have taken.
Agreed.
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That’s 60 too many.
well we know more many many more have died at their hands
yet on it goes more deaths more abuse yes I wonder whot the
population would think if they realy found out this lot just like
the nazi party in the summer of 41 70 000 DEAD I WONDER
they cant be far off that number now jeff3
For months (years?) they denied that such investigations were performed with the usual “we don’t hold such data.” Then they f***ed up and admitted that such a thing happened in a roundabout way which then meant they also had to release the number of investigations. The DWP has become a rogue institution with IDS stearing it over the cliff… the only response ever given by “the DWP spokesperson” is an automated “but… fairness… I believe… IDS told me to say this… I’m only following orders…”
IDS has successfully politicised the DWP, its no longer a civil service entity but IDS’s plaything.
60 is just the tip of the iceburg it will be many years before the true death toll of all who have died in going through welfare reform is known, and for the families concerned to know how their partner has died
Utterly speechless!….Again. Well I installed my work about these suicides into a gallery in Northampton yesterday and it all opens tomorrow. The space was a little too small to get the slabs all down and I took just over 20 (one for each person). I would like to get the names and details of the other 40 or so and I can continue to bring this issue to the fore. Mike, you do sterling work ….keep it up!
the goverment shouldnt cut people bennfits its so wrong we cant live on that much 4 2 weeks like to see the goverment trying to live on 60 or 69 4 2 weeks