10,000 signatures reached
To: Priti Patel, Employment Minister & Iain Duncan Smith, Minister for Work and Pensions
Deaths and the Sanctioning Policy
We ask Employment Minister Priti Patel to release the reviews of 49 cases of benefit recipients who died after their benefits were stopped, due to the sanctioning policy of the DWP (Department for Work and Pensions).
Why is this important?
Malcolm Burge set fire to himself in Cheddar Gorge, after being told he was subject to court action for £800 by Newham Borough Council, after his Housing Benefit was cut in half. Malcolm had written often to Newham Borough Council to tell them that he couldn't pay, he had never had that amount of money, and that he was suicidal.
Also, David Clapson, who died after his benefits were stopped. He then had no money for food, had no money for electric to keep the fridge going that had his insulin in. The coroner stated that David had no food in his stomach and £3.44 in the bank.
Esther McVey (The previous Employment Minister) stated to MPs that there is no link between the deaths and the sanctioning policy and that 'we ensured that all of our processes correctly'. If there is no link between the stopping of benefits and the deaths of 49 benefit recipients, why won't the DWP release the reviews?
The sanctioning policy needs to reviewed when used in relation to vulnerable people, not used as a blanket policy.
