A SCOT has taken her own life after fighting an “exhausting” battle with the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) to restore her disability benefits, Welfare Scotland has said.
The non-profit group, which works to improve Scotland’s social security system, said Jane H, one of its long-time clients, had committed suicide.
Welfare Scotland chair Rob McDowall said Jane had become “distraught” after having to appeal the DWP’s decision to deny her disability benefits for the fourth time.
McDowall said Jane had won her last three appeals but had become “exhausted” with the process, which he labelled "seriously flawed, cruel and discriminatory".
Announcing her death, Welfare Scotland tweeted: “It is with great sadness that we report the death of our great client Jane H who passed from suicide.
“Jane lived with a number of life-limiting conditions, one of which caused considerable chronic pain following an accident which left her virtually unable to walk from three weeks after her 25th birthday.
“Due to the way her conditions manifest, her capability for work was severely limited.
“Jane challenged the DWP decision to deny her the support group rate of Employment and Support Allowance and find her fit for work before then removing her entitlement to Enhanced Rate Personal Independence Payment (PIP)."
Welfare Scotland said Jane had reported that her life was "continually turned upside down" by the process, adding that she felt "utterly exhausted by having to fight the agency time and time again".
The non-profit continued: “Today’s sad news is unfortunately far from a unique and singular instance.
“The reality for so many disabled and chronically ill people is an uphill battle to gain security support they are entitled to in law.
“You can judge a society by the way it treats vulnerable people and those most in need and with no end to the cruelty and arduous processes employed by the DWP in sight, the reality is we will see more and more people being left in desperation and crisis.
“Jane died having endured continual battles to access the support she was entitled to.”
Welfare Scotland said Jane will be “sorely missed by her family and friends”.
My team and I at @welfarescotland are sad to share the news that Jane, one of our long-standing clients has died by suicide. Her family want her story to be told and we will share with you in coming weeks. Jane has her disability benefits denied and despite (…) pic.twitter.com/wOhIcpkKLO
— Rob McDowall FRSA (@robmcd85) June 7, 2022
Announcing the news, chair McDowal said Jane was “distraught” after fighting the DWP for the fourth time.
He tweeted: “My team and I at @welfarescotland are sad to share the news that Jane, one of our long-standing clients has died by suicide.
"Her family want her story to be told and we will share it with you in the coming weeks.
"Jane had her disability benefits denied and despite having appealed and won three times in the past, Jane was exhausted and distraught at having to continue her fight and ensure the angst and chaos heaped onto her by the DWP’s seriously flawed, cruel and discriminatory system.
“The sad reality here is that Jane isn’t the first and sadly will not be last who finds this relentless pressure and angst consumes them.
"The way disabled and chronically ill people are treated by the UK Government and its agencies is appalling.”
The DWP has been approached for comment.
