The tragic death of Krissi Hunt, a 31-year-old disabled woman who took her own life after a series of bureaucratic failures by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), shines a stark light on the devastating consequences of a government system that fails to protect the most vulnerable.
The inquest into Krissi’s death revealed that DWP’s errors, combined with the intense stress of living in poverty and struggling with her mental health, contributed to her tragic end.
Krissi, who had been claiming Personal Independence Payments (PIP) and Employment and Support Allowance (ESA), was caught in the crushing web of a system that exacerbated her struggles.
We’re nearly halfway there! Thanks to amazing supporters, we’ve raised £20 toward this month’s £50 goal to fund independent research and reporting.
If you value fearless political journalism that holds the powerful to account, please chip in today. Even £2 helps keep Vox Political running strong.
👉 Support us here: https://ko-fi.com/voxpolitical
Bureaucratic mistakes, such as the wrongful demand to repay fines and overpayments, left her with almost no money to survive on, while her PIP claim was being reviewed — and ultimately threatened with termination.
The toll this took on Krissi’s mental health was unbearable, and in the end, it was too much for her to handle.
Krissi’s death is not an isolated incident.
The DWP’s failures have been linked to numerous other tragic deaths over the years, and as the government pushes forward with its proposed cuts to disability benefits, we must ask ourselves: How many more lives will be lost if we allow this to continue?
Buy Cruel Britannia in print here. Buy the Cruel Britannia ebook here. Or just click on the image!
The government’s Pathways to Work green paper, which proposes cutting billions from disability benefits, is a direct threat to people like Krissi.
These cuts will push even more vulnerable individuals to the brink, increasing financial insecurity, exacerbating mental health conditions, and heightening the already overwhelming pressure disabled people face.
Krissi’s family have already warned the government that these cuts will cause more tragedies like hers.
They are right.
As Krissi’s stepfather, Colin Barrow, pointed out, even with the positive aspects of her new job, she would have been consumed by the panic and stress of dealing with the DWP’s repeated mistakes.
Her story is a painful example of how the government’s indifference to the realities of disability and mental health issues can lead to life-or-death consequences.
Get my free guide: “10 Political Lies You Were Sold This Decade” — just subscribe to our email list here:
👉 https://voxpoliticalonline.com
Let’s be clear: cutting PIP and other disability benefits is not only cruel, but it is also profoundly reckless.
People who depend on these payments for their basic needs are not living lavish lives.
They are barely scraping by, facing the daily struggles of managing a disability or chronic illness while also dealing with the pressures of a system that seems designed to make their lives harder.
To further reduce this support will only increase the risk of more disabled people falling through the cracks — people like Krissi, who was already at the end of her rope when the DWP’s mistakes piled on top of her existing challenges.
We cannot sit by and allow the government to make these cuts.
We cannot allow the voices of the most vulnerable to be ignored as they were for Krissi.
The DWP must be held accountable, and the government must be made to understand the human cost of these policies.
What can we do?
The answer is simple: we must stand up and fight back.
Here’s how you can help:
- Sign the petition calling for the plans in the Pathways to Work Green Paper to be abandoned and a new National Disability Strategy devised instead.
-
Call your MP — It’s time for your voice to be heard. Demand that they oppose cuts to PIP and disability benefits. Let them know that you will not stand idly by while vulnerable people suffer.
-
Support the organizations fighting for disability rights — Groups like Mind, Rethink, and the Samaritans are on the frontlines, advocating for people like Krissi who are struggling to survive in a broken system. Your support can help them continue their vital work.
-
Raise awareness — Share Krissi’s story, and the stories of others who have suffered because of DWP failings, with your friends, family, and social media networks. The more people who understand the risks of these cuts, the harder it will be for the government to push them through without scrutiny.
-
Join a protest or campaign — There are many grassroots movements dedicated to stopping these cuts. Find out how you can get involved and make your voice heard in a public demonstration or through online campaigns.
We’re nearly halfway there! Thanks to amazing supporters, we’ve raised £20 toward this month’s £50 goal to fund independent research and reporting.
Let’s close the gap this week! Help us hit £50 and power the next investigation.
If you value fearless political journalism that holds the powerful to account, please chip in today. Even £2 helps keep Vox Political running strong.
👉 Support us here: https://ko-fi.com/voxpolitical
We cannot afford to wait for more tragedies like Krissi’s to happen. The time to act is now.
Sign the petition, call your MP, and let’s make sure the government hears us loud and clear: disabled people deserve dignity, respect, and support — not cuts that will push them closer to the edge.
Vox Political needs your help!
If you want to support this site
(but don’t want to give your money to advertisers)
you can make a one-off donation here:
Be among the first to know what’s going on! Here are the ways to manage it:
1) Register with us by clicking on ‘Subscribe’ (bottom right of the home page). You can then receive notifications of every new article that is posted here.
2) Follow VP on Twitter @VoxPolitical
3) Like the Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/VoxPolitical/
Join the Vox Political Facebook page.
4) You could even make Vox Political your homepage at http://voxpoliticalonline.com
5) Follow Vox Political writer Mike Sivier on BlueSky
6) Join the MeWe page at https://mewe.com/p-front/voxpolitical
7) Feel free to comment!
And do share with your family and friends – so they don’t miss out!
If you have appreciated this article, don’t forget to share it using the buttons at the bottom of this page. Politics is about everybody – so let’s try to get everybody involved!
Buy Vox Political books so we can continue
fighting for the facts.
Cruel Britannia is available
in either print or eBook format here:
The Livingstone Presumption is available
in either print or eBook format here:
Health Warning: Government! is now available
in either print or eBook format here:
The first collection, Strong Words and Hard Times,
is still available in either print or eBook format here:
The government’s PIP cuts will push disabled people to the brink – we cannot let it happen
The tragic death of Krissi Hunt, a 31-year-old disabled woman who took her own life after a series of bureaucratic failures by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), shines a stark light on the devastating consequences of a government system that fails to protect the most vulnerable.
The inquest into Krissi’s death revealed that DWP’s errors, combined with the intense stress of living in poverty and struggling with her mental health, contributed to her tragic end.
Krissi, who had been claiming Personal Independence Payments (PIP) and Employment and Support Allowance (ESA), was caught in the crushing web of a system that exacerbated her struggles.
We’re nearly halfway there! Thanks to amazing supporters, we’ve raised £20 toward this month’s £50 goal to fund independent research and reporting.
If you value fearless political journalism that holds the powerful to account, please chip in today. Even £2 helps keep Vox Political running strong.
👉 Support us here: https://ko-fi.com/voxpolitical
Bureaucratic mistakes, such as the wrongful demand to repay fines and overpayments, left her with almost no money to survive on, while her PIP claim was being reviewed — and ultimately threatened with termination.
The toll this took on Krissi’s mental health was unbearable, and in the end, it was too much for her to handle.
Krissi’s death is not an isolated incident.
The DWP’s failures have been linked to numerous other tragic deaths over the years, and as the government pushes forward with its proposed cuts to disability benefits, we must ask ourselves: How many more lives will be lost if we allow this to continue?
Buy Cruel Britannia in print here. Buy the Cruel Britannia ebook here. Or just click on the image!
The government’s Pathways to Work green paper, which proposes cutting billions from disability benefits, is a direct threat to people like Krissi.
These cuts will push even more vulnerable individuals to the brink, increasing financial insecurity, exacerbating mental health conditions, and heightening the already overwhelming pressure disabled people face.
Krissi’s family have already warned the government that these cuts will cause more tragedies like hers.
They are right.
As Krissi’s stepfather, Colin Barrow, pointed out, even with the positive aspects of her new job, she would have been consumed by the panic and stress of dealing with the DWP’s repeated mistakes.
Her story is a painful example of how the government’s indifference to the realities of disability and mental health issues can lead to life-or-death consequences.
Get my free guide: “10 Political Lies You Were Sold This Decade” — just subscribe to our email list here:
👉 https://voxpoliticalonline.com
Let’s be clear: cutting PIP and other disability benefits is not only cruel, but it is also profoundly reckless.
People who depend on these payments for their basic needs are not living lavish lives.
They are barely scraping by, facing the daily struggles of managing a disability or chronic illness while also dealing with the pressures of a system that seems designed to make their lives harder.
To further reduce this support will only increase the risk of more disabled people falling through the cracks — people like Krissi, who was already at the end of her rope when the DWP’s mistakes piled on top of her existing challenges.
We cannot sit by and allow the government to make these cuts.
We cannot allow the voices of the most vulnerable to be ignored as they were for Krissi.
The DWP must be held accountable, and the government must be made to understand the human cost of these policies.
What can we do?
The answer is simple: we must stand up and fight back.
Here’s how you can help:
Call your MP — It’s time for your voice to be heard. Demand that they oppose cuts to PIP and disability benefits. Let them know that you will not stand idly by while vulnerable people suffer.
Support the organizations fighting for disability rights — Groups like Mind, Rethink, and the Samaritans are on the frontlines, advocating for people like Krissi who are struggling to survive in a broken system. Your support can help them continue their vital work.
Raise awareness — Share Krissi’s story, and the stories of others who have suffered because of DWP failings, with your friends, family, and social media networks. The more people who understand the risks of these cuts, the harder it will be for the government to push them through without scrutiny.
Join a protest or campaign — There are many grassroots movements dedicated to stopping these cuts. Find out how you can get involved and make your voice heard in a public demonstration or through online campaigns.
We’re nearly halfway there! Thanks to amazing supporters, we’ve raised £20 toward this month’s £50 goal to fund independent research and reporting.
Let’s close the gap this week! Help us hit £50 and power the next investigation.
If you value fearless political journalism that holds the powerful to account, please chip in today. Even £2 helps keep Vox Political running strong.
👉 Support us here: https://ko-fi.com/voxpolitical
We cannot afford to wait for more tragedies like Krissi’s to happen. The time to act is now.
Sign the petition, call your MP, and let’s make sure the government hears us loud and clear: disabled people deserve dignity, respect, and support — not cuts that will push them closer to the edge.
Vox Political needs your help!
If you want to support this site
(but don’t want to give your money to advertisers)
you can make a one-off donation here:
Be among the first to know what’s going on! Here are the ways to manage it:
1) Register with us by clicking on ‘Subscribe’ (bottom right of the home page). You can then receive notifications of every new article that is posted here.
2) Follow VP on Twitter @VoxPolitical
3) Like the Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/VoxPolitical/
Join the Vox Political Facebook page.
4) You could even make Vox Political your homepage at http://voxpoliticalonline.com
5) Follow Vox Political writer Mike Sivier on BlueSky
6) Join the MeWe page at https://mewe.com/p-front/voxpolitical
7) Feel free to comment!
And do share with your family and friends – so they don’t miss out!
If you have appreciated this article, don’t forget to share it using the buttons at the bottom of this page. Politics is about everybody – so let’s try to get everybody involved!
Buy Vox Political books so we can continue
fighting for the facts.
Cruel Britannia is available
in either print or eBook format here:
The Livingstone Presumption is available
in either print or eBook format here:
Health Warning: Government! is now available
in either print or eBook format here:
The first collection, Strong Words and Hard Times,
is still available in either print or eBook format here:
you might also like
Let’s start the New Year with some hopeful news
More mistakes in the script? Correcting Cameron’s New Year speech
Osborne wants a ‘year of hard truths’. Here’s one: He’s HIDING the truth