Campaigning journalist Steve Topple has reported that over 21,000 sick and disabled people have dies while waiting for a decision about their benefit claims from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).
The figures were published by DWP Minister Sarah Newton in response to an MP’s question. Madeleine Moon of the Labour party asked how many people have died while waiting for their Personal Independence Payment assessment to be completed and what conditions people died from.
The Minister revealed the number of deaths between April 2013 and 30 April 2018 as:
- 4,760 claimants died between the DWP referring their case to, and it returning from, an assessment provider.
- 73,800 claimants died within 6 months of registering their claim.
- 17,070 claimants died after registering but prior to the DWP making a decision on their claim.
The report claims that major questions have been raised over the figures’ revelations:
- Why were people dying whose main condition was non-terminal?
- Why did it take it so long to process nearly 5,000 cancer patients’ claims?
- Likewise with motor neurone disease?
- Also, what did the people whose main condition was mental health-related die of? And did DWP processes play a part in any worsening of their mental health issues?
Read more: The Canary
