21st Century Wire says…
If you think this is going to be an isolated case, think again. As long as the cuts keep coming, the people will keep on dropping.
Also a place where people are harassed to the point of suicide.
Malcolm Burge, a retired gardener who had spent the majority of his life caring for his sickly father, killed himself after his local authority Newham Council pursued him for £800 ($1226) which they had overpaid to him.
What kind of backward, barbaric society allows this to happen? Unfortunately, the same backward, barbaric society that would cut healthcare funding to balance a budget.
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Man kills himself after benefit changes left him owing £800, inquest told
A retired gardener took his own life after begging for help when changes to his benefits left him owing more than £800 – in a case that highlights the bureaucratic cruelty of the welfare system.
Malcolm Burge, 66, killed himself at Cheddar Gorge, Somerset, after being pursued for the sum by his local authority, an inquest into his death has heard.
He had previously written to Newham Council telling them he was “depressed, stressed and suicidal”.
“I have no savings or assets. I am not trying to live, I am trying to survive. I can’t remember the last time I had £800.”
West Somerset Coroner Michael Rose said he would write to Newham Council to encourage them to establish a system to help the “most vulnerable” residents deal with the benefits system, after examining the case of the pensioner, who took his own life on 28 June last year.
Letters presented to the inquest revealed Mr Burge had tried repeatedly to seek help and telephone the council but had been bounced around an electronic switchboard…
Continue reading the full story at The Independent
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