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MP calls for inquiry over suicides of benefit claimants

Oldham East and Saddleworth MP Debbie Abrahams.

An Oldham MP is calling for an independent inquiry after a number of people claiming benefits took their own lives.

Debbie Abrahams, who represents Oldham East and Saddleworth in parliament, has renewed her call for an independent public inquiry to address the deaths of people claiming social security.

It follows the news that the family of one woman who took a fatal overdose after her payments were cut has announced they are taking legal action against the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).

Philippa Day, 27, was found collapsed at her Nottingham home beside a letter rejecting her request for an at-home benefits assessment in August 2019.

The family’s legal action follows calls from the Oldham MP for a full, independent, inquiry into the DWP’s handling of at least 27 cases of people who were known to have taken their own life.

The DWP says that people claiming benefits receive a ‘supportive and compassionate service’ and they carry out internal reviews following ‘tragic’ cases.

However Ms Abrahams said: “A government’s first duty is to keep its citizens safe.

“This should be particularly so for the most vulnerable amongst us. Unfortunately, that has not been the experience of sick and disabled people over recent years.

 “There is growing evidence that sick and disabled people in receipt of social security support have died prematurely, and that this is associated with different aspects of the social security system. It’s not fit for purpose and is failing to provide a safety net.

“The government is seriously letting people down by not acting on the numerous warnings over the last seven years or so.”

She said the government had been issued five prevention of future death reports by coroners, as well as a ‘number’ of reports from the Work and Pensions select committee.

A report had estimated that the work capability assessment process was associated with an additional 590 suicides between 2010 and 2013.

 Ms Abraham added: “They have failed to act, other than tweaking their internal review processes.

“There has been no independent investigation to establish the scale or cause of these deaths. Instead the government has been left to mark their own homework. 

“I will continue to highlight these tragic cases until there is an independent public inquiry into the deaths of these social security claimants.”

 A DWP spokesperson said: “We support millions of people a year and our priority is they get the benefits to which they are entitled promptly and receive a supportive and compassionate service.

“In the vast majority of cases this happens but when, sadly, there is a tragic case we take it very seriously.

“In those circumstances it’s absolutely right we carry out an internal review to check if the correct processes were followed and identify any lessons learned to inform future policy and service.”

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