Latest benefit death: Musician took his own life after DWP ruled him fit to work

A talented musician battling mental health problems took his own life after he was ruled fit to work.

Aaron Lane, who won a place at the prestigious Royal Academy of Music in London in his 20s, suffered psychosis and had been receiving Employment and Support Allowance.

But he was recently ruled fit to work under the Tory Government’s crippling benefits changes.

His parents say he feared he would lose all of his benefits and be left penniless.

After they raised concerns, police forced entry to his home in Newark, Lincs, and found him dead aged 31.

It is understood he had taken his own life.

Aaron’s dad Steve said: “He was worried that all of his money would be stopped.

“Aaron was let down across the system. He was too often a box to tick.”

The Department for Work and Pensions said it had followed all correct procedures in Aaron’s case.

Source: Aaron Lane: Talented musician with mental health problems took his own life after DWP ruled him fit to work – Mirror Online

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14 Comments

  1. Neilth July 10, 2015 at 10:45 am - Reply

    Of course they followed procedures – in fact they were only following orders.

  2. diabolicalme July 10, 2015 at 10:59 am - Reply

    Shame that his parents trot out the mantra “there are a lot of people who milk it” re ‘invalidity benefit’ (sic) – where’s their evidence? How bloody near impossible it is these days to successfully claim sickness/disability benefits, so how many people are successfully ‘milking it’? They have no idea the damage this does to sick and disabled claimants, in addition to the ever increasing stigma towards mental health!!

  3. Robert Fillies July 10, 2015 at 10:59 am - Reply

    The usual from the DWP -following the correct procedures, how many more tragedies like this young man before the DWP and their animated master IDS before they do the right thing and assess people with mental illnes in a much more sophisticated way and not just as a tick box exercise. Hopefully using staff properly qualified in the care of the mentally ill ( oh i forgot caring for the client as they call us is not part of their remit).

  4. amnesiaclinic July 10, 2015 at 11:07 am - Reply

    This is totally shocking. These stupid procedures have to be challenged. Wasn’t that the excuse at Nuremberg that they were only following orders?
    Much sympathy and condolences to the family. I hope they really fight this.
    May he rest in peace.
    x

    • Colin p morris July 10, 2015 at 2:05 pm - Reply

      I wonder if the creatures who carry out these loaded one sided wca have parents I do know if any of mine did such a job I would be appalled and disown them

  5. Mr.Angry July 10, 2015 at 11:20 am - Reply

    Tragic and yet another nameless DWP spokesperson following procedures, it’s wrongly named the Department for work and pensions, it’s the department for genocide.

    Another statistic that wont be logged.

    • Mike Sivier July 10, 2015 at 12:19 pm - Reply

      They’ll say it’s a suicide, not a benefit-related death.
      It’s clearly both.

  6. Robert Fillies July 10, 2015 at 11:45 am - Reply

    Further to my previous comment, surely the companies that are carrying out these assessments and the DWP decision makers have a duty of care for the clients they are assessing and any consequences that may later ensue as a result of their decisions. Surely this duty of care must go all the way to the top.

    • Nick Fourbanks July 10, 2015 at 1:44 pm - Reply

      There is no care robert let me spell it out
      if you fill in DWP forms of which you are not knowledgeable you will fail the benefit of which you are undertaking

      if you have no family member support you will starve to death as your benefit will be closed down. as his farther stated He was worried that all of his money would be stopped which it would have done as both Arons parents along with themselves are not able to fill DWP forms out to the correct procedure

      DWP and procedure are critical and if one is not up with the other then your as good as dead as you will go around and around in a loop with the DWP till you hang yourself

      and that’s the bottom line and that’s my long experience with the DWP

  7. Mili July 10, 2015 at 7:40 pm - Reply

    Tweeted @melissacade68

  8. lawrencesroberts July 10, 2015 at 10:37 pm - Reply

    Isn’t there a court in The Hague for class war murderers?

  9. Jay July 11, 2015 at 6:32 am - Reply

    Another death on RTU’ S lying hands. is this going to go on for another five years!! rest in peace x

  10. jampot July 11, 2015 at 7:22 am - Reply

    Another death on gormless liar George smiths hands

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