Mark Wood, 44, was ruled fit for work towards the suggestions of his GP and in spite of getting complex psychological well being circumstances. He weighed 35kg (5st 8lb) when he died. Photograph: SWNS.com
The loved ones of a man who starved to death 4 months following his benefits had been lower off has known as on the government to reform the way it treats men and women with psychological wellness troubles when it assesses their eligibility for positive aspects.
Mark Wood, 44, who had a quantity of complicated psychological well being circumstances, died at his house final August, months following an Atos fitness-for-function evaluation found him capable of returning to work. This assessment triggered a decision by the jobcentre to cease his sickness and housing positive aspects, leaving him just £40 a week to reside on.
The Oxfordshire coroner, Darren Salter, mentioned that although it was impossible to recognize the trigger of death, it was most likely “triggered or contributed to by Wood being markedly underweight and malnourished”. He weighed 5st 8lbs (35kg) when he died his physician mentioned his entire body mass index was not compatible with existence.
Wood, of Bampton, Oxfordshire, was not told his housing benefit and employment and assistance allowance (ESA) had been stopped, and struggled to survive on the £40-a-week disability allowance that remained. He was reluctant to ask relatives for assist and they had been unaware his rewards payments had been eliminated until finally shortly just before he died.
Concerned about his patient’s situation, Wood’s physician, Nicholas Ward, wrote to the jobcentre in help of his rewards application, stating that he was “incredibly unwell and completely unfit for any operate whatsoever”.
The letter, presented to the inquest, stated that his anxiety disorder and obsessional traits had been produced “significantly worse” simply because of the pressure place on him by benefit modifications. It continued: “Please do not cease or minimize his positive aspects as this will have ongoing, important affect on his psychological overall health. He simply is not properly adequate to cope with this added anxiety. His psychological and medical situation is really severe.”
Dr Ward advised the inquest the Atos determination was an “accelerating aspect” in Wood’s decline and eventual death, according to his household.
Wood informed housing association workers he was extremely distressed housing advantage had been cut off, and by letters about growing lease arrears and warnings from the electrical energy company his provide would be cut off. A lot of letters had been unopened, so he was unaware he essential to go to the jobcentre to reapply for assistance, his sister, Cathie Wood, said.
He was a “sweet and gentle” individual, she mentioned. “He didn’t deserve to die. He wasn’t harming anyone.”
Her brother had struggled with undiagnosed psychological health concerns all his daily life, which created it unattainable for him to perform. He was diagnosed with Asperger syndrome and obsessive compulsive disorder in his late 20s, and had an eating disorder and cognitive behavioural difficulties when he died. He was sacked from his first task due to the fact his employer explained he was “unable to follow guidelines”.
“We worked for many years to produce a area for him to dwell securely. But that stopped when his rewards have been stopped. He tried so hard to survive,” Ms Wood explained.
She is to write to David Cameron, who was her brother’s MP, and to the perform and pensions secretary, Iain Duncan Smith, to ask them to acknowledge that the system is not doing work for vulnerable people with psychological health issues.
“I would like Iain Duncan Smith to end speaking about this as a moral crusade, and admit that this entire procedure of reassessing men and women for their advantages is a cost-cutting measure. I want and Cameron to acknowledge the private expenses of this flawed technique. This is not just somebody currently being inconvenienced – this is a death,” Cathie Wood said.
She is angry Atos did not seek out healthcare proof from her brother’s GP, and manufactured the assessment that he was capable of getting ready to return to perform soon after a half-hour interview at his house. The Atos report concluded his psychological state was “regular”.
Cathie Wood would like the government to place new safeguards in spot for vulnerable men and women when removing their positive aspects. She believes her brother was unable and probably unwilling to convey the seriousness of his problem to the Atos assessors and should have had an advocate to help him.
“He was really a proud individual. He would have needed to be observed as regular. He was desperate to get by as regular,” she stated. He was reluctant to contact for aid from his family members. “He didn’t want to impose on our mother. He desired to survive with out her aid.”
Wood’s vicar advised the inquest that he was a guy of “dignity and integrity”.
Amongst April and August 2013, Wood’s BMI dropped from 14.one to about eleven.five. The inquest heard that a BMI of amongst 18.five and 24.9 is deemed healthful for a guy. The inquest noted that he had created an consuming disorder.
“I am not saying that the government shouldn’t reassess people’s eligibility for positive aspects, but somebody other than my brother must have been told that he had misplaced his benefits. This is an inappropriate procedure for folks who are mentally ill. The Atos test is crude they are not capable of creating a judgment on complex psychological illness in half an hour,” explained Wood.
Tom Pollard, policy and campaigns manager at Mind, mentioned: “We were deeply saddened to hear of the death of Mark Wood. Sadly this tragic situation is not an isolated incident. We hear also typically how adjustments to rewards are negatively impacting vulnerable folks, who struggle to navigate a complicated, and increasingly punitive, program.
“We know the evaluation procedure for people applying for employment and support allowance is extremely nerve-racking, and too crude to accurately assess the impact a mental well being dilemma has on someone’s ability to perform. This prospects to individuals not receiving the proper support and being put below extreme stress which can make their health worse and push them even more from the workplace.
“We urgently want to see a total overhaul of the system, to make certain nobody else falls by means of the cracks.”
An Atos spokeswoman mentioned: “Our thoughts are with the family members of Mr Wood at this tough time.”
On Thursday, a government minister apologised soon after it emerged that the Department for Perform and Pensions had written to a girl asking her to commence “intensive function-centered activity” although at the time she was in a coma.
Vulnerable guy starved to death soon after positive aspects were cut
