Timeline – Deaths by Welfare Project

Government and Media Stigmatisation Labour PartyContent Warning: Death

The Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 receives Royal Assent.

25 January 2006

Government and Media Stigmatisation Labour Party Tony Blair

Tony Blair supports welfare shake-up, warning that unemployed people, single parents and those on incapacity benefit that they could no longer expect “a lifetime” on benefit.

2007

Private Companies & Outsourcing David Freud Labour Party

New Labour commission report from investment banker David Freud on “reducing dependency” in the welfare system.

9 November 2007

Government and Media Stigmatisation Department for Work and Pensions Labour Party Peter Hain

Labour announces the new work capability assessment for claiming employment and support allowance, with DWP claiming that “Fifty per cent of those who take the assessment will not pass it”.

1 April 2008

Government and Media Stigmatisation James Purnell

Work and pensions secretary (of the Blair administration) announces plans to get tough on “scroungers” by retesting everyone on Incapacity Benefit through the new Work Capability Assessment.

27 October 2008

Government and Media Stigmatisation James Purnell Labour Party

Introduction of Employment and Support Allowance and the Work Capability Assessment – key elements of Labour’s welfare reform which aims to use conditionality to cut spending on out-of-work benefits.

10 June 2010

Duty of Care and Safeguarding Paul ReekieContent Warning: Suicide

The death of Paul Reekie.

22 June 2010

Government and Media Stigmatisation Conservative Party George Osborne Liberal Democrats

Budget reveals plans to slash spending on disability living allowance through a new assessment process.

October 2010

Creative Action

Duty of Care and Safeguarding Mad Pride

Mad Pride protest against the coalition government’s “savage” welfare cuts.

31 December 2011

Peer Reviews and Internal Process Reviews Ms DEContent Warning: Death

The death of Ms DE (Mental Welfare Commission for Scotland later launches an investigation into her death).

1 February 2012

Government and Media Stigmatisation Conservative Party Liberal Democrats

Commons invokes financial privilege to pass the Welfare Reform Act 2012, quashing Lords amendments to soften changes to the benefits system.

8 February 2012

Legislation Conservative Party

Welfare Reform Act, which introduces universal credit and introduces the “bedroom tax”, receives royal assent.

1 March 2012

Peer Reviews and Internal Process Reviews

MPs and peers warn of cumulative impact of Disability Living Allowance and Personal Independence payments (DLA/PIP) reforms on disabled people.

20 June 2012

Government and Media Stigmatisation Department for Work and PensionsContent Warning: Attempted Suicide

Email leaked from Jobcentre managers to staff after a claimant attempts suicide after being told his sickness benefit would be cut off.

12 September 2012

Duty of Care and Safeguarding Colin Traynor Conservative Party David Cameron Department for Work and Pensions Iain Duncan Smith Labour PartyContent Warning: Death

MP raises concerns over the death of Colin Traynor, whose family say they “hold the Government…personally responsible”.

25 September 2012

Disability Assessments Edward JacquesContent Warning: DeathContent Warning: Suicide

The death of Edward Jacques, a week after his Employment Support Allowance (ESA) was stopped, which his family say was a major “trigger”. The coroner raises issues with the assessment process, specifically the failure to get medical evidence.

April 2013

Peer Reviews and Internal Process Reviews Demos

Thinktank Demos show that disabled people will be hit by up to 13 different cuts and risk losing a total of £28.3 billion in income support by 2018.

April 2013

Private Companies & Outsourcing Atos Capita Department for Work and Pensions

Legislation

Launch of new personal independence payment (PIP)

April 2013

Legislation

The Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012 (LASPO) comes into effect, introducing funding cuts to legal aid.

4 May 2013

Government and Media Stigmatisation Stephanie Bottrill WOW CampaignContent Warning: Death Content Warning: Suicide

The death of Stephanie Bottrill – her suicide note blames the government’s “bedroom tax”.

20 July 2013

Deaths David Clapson Jeremy CorbynContent Warning: Death

The death of David Clapson, three weeks after having his jobseeker’s allowance sanctioned.

9 August 2013

Role of GP’s Mark Wood Stephen CarréContent Warning: Death

The death of Mark Wood after being found ineligible for Employment Support Allowance (ESA).

25 September 2013

Disability Assessments Atos Department for Work and Pensions Tim SalterContent Warning: Suicide

The death of Tim Salter after being found fit for work. A coroner later ruled that a major factor in his death was the reduction in his benefits.

28 September 2013

Disability Assessments Jeremy Corbyn John McDonnell Michael Meacher

10,000 Cuts and Counting event in Parliament Square to remember the thousands of disabled people who have died shortly after a Work Capability Assessment (WCA).

January 2015

Peer Reviews and Internal Process Reviews Labour Party Maria Eagle Mike Wood Timothy Finn

Labour MP speaks of “core visits” procedures, which are supposed to be followed when a “vulnerable” person is sanctioned.

2 February 2015

Duty of Care and Safeguarding Department for Work and PensionsContent Warning: Suicide

A man (name kept anonymous) dies by suicide after being rejected for both Personal Independence Payment (PIP) and Employment Support Allowance (ESA).

March 2015

Peer Reviews and Internal Process Reviews Psychologists Against Austerity

Psychologists Against Austerity say austerity policies are causing mental health problems.

7 May 2015

Government and Media Stigmatisation Conservative Party

Conservatives win overall majority at general election

29 May 2015

Sanctions Luke Alexander LoyContent Warning: Death

The death of Luke Alexander Loy, three months after being found fit for work and sanctioned. His sister said “he died as a result of Tory cuts”.

20 July 2015

Cuts & Reduction of Welfare Services John McDonnell Labour Party

John McDonnell voices strong opposition to welfare reform and work bill

August 2015

Sanctions Department for Work and Pensions Moira DruryContent Warning: Death

The death of Moira Drury, after the removal of her employment and support allowance (ESA).

10 August 2015

Deaths Frances McCormackContent Warning: Suicide

The death of Frances McCormack. She left a note linking her hardship to the “bedroom tax”.

29 August 2015

Private Companies & Outsourcing

Sanctions Alan McArdle Department for Work and PensionsContent Warning: Death

The death of Alan McArdle, an hour after being told that DWP was threatening to sanction him – stopping his employment and support allowance (ESA).

Cuts & Reduction of Welfare Services Conservative Party

28 October 2015

Welfare reform and work bill has its first reading in parliament.

November 2015

Role of GP’s

Sanctions Paul DonnachieContent Warning: Suicide

The death of Paul Donnachie, after his employment and support allowance (ESA) is removed.

16 March 2016

Legislation

Welfare Reform and Work Act receives royal assent.

20 March 2016

Government and Media Stigmatisation Conservative Party Iain Duncan Smith

Iain Duncan Smith accuses government of deliberately attacking disabled people through “indefensible” cuts because “they don’t vote for us”.

19 May 2016

Duty of Care and Safeguarding Department for Work and Pensions Susan RobertsContent Warning: Suicide

The death of Susan Roberts, after being told she had lost a benefit appeal.

17 July 2016

Government and Media Stigmatisation Kamil AhmadContent Warning: Death

Kamil Ahmad, a disabled Kurdish asylum seeker, is murdered

26 July 2017

Duty of Care and Safeguarding Department for Work and Pensions Mark BarberContent Warning: Suicide

The death of Mark Barber, shortly after learning his disability benefits would be cut. Coroner mentions stress linked to reassessment for disability benefits.

August 2017

Peer Reviews and Internal Process Reviews Conservative Party United Nations

UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities committee says government cuts caused “human catastrophe”.

14 March 2018

Census & Surveyed Data

Duty of Care and Safeguarding Equality and Human Rights Commission

The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) research shows cumulative impact of tax and welfare reforms on disabled people.

20 June 2018

Duty of Care and Safeguarding Department for Work and Pensions Errol GrahamContent Warning: Death

The death of Errol Graham, months after DWP wrongly stopped his employment support allowance (ESA), and failed to seek further medical evidence.

November 2018

Disability Assessments Department for Work and PensionsContent Warning: Suicide

The sister of a man with learning difficulties says his death was caused by his move onto the government’s “chaotic” universal credit system.

Cuts & Reduction of Welfare Services George Osborne

15 January 2019

Watchdog report shows introduction of personal independence payment (PIP) led to spending rise rather than intended fall.

March 2019

Government and Media Stigmatisation Amber Rudd Conservative Party Department for Work and Pensions

Work and pensions secretary Amber Rudd launches Health Transformation Programme – to reform assessment processes.

8 March 2019

Duty of Care and Safeguarding National Health Service

NHS calls for government action on link between mental distress and benefit cuts.

April 2019

Duty of Care and Safeguarding James OliverContent Warning: Death

The death of James Oliver, a few months after DWP’s refusal to grant him personal independence payment (PIP).

8 September 2020

Census & Surveyed Data

Duty of Care and Safeguarding Atos Capita Department for Work and Pensions

New DWP figures show that, in just two years, 1,700 disabled people died within three months of having their claim for personal independence payment (PIP) rejected.

27 November 2020

Government and Media Stigmatisation Conservative Party Stephen Crabb

Former work and pensions secretary admits harsh benefit cuts were responsible for rising poverty.

23 February 2021

Duty of Care and Safeguarding Department for Work and Pensions Equality and Human Rights Commission

Report from the all-party parliamentary group on health in all policies, says 2016 welfare reforms had devastating impacts on disabled people, and calls for inquiry into deaths of benefit claimants.

3 October 2021

Government and Media Stigmatisation Conservative Party Department for Work and Pensions Therese Coffey

Work and pensions secretary signals new bid to try to push more disabled people with high support needs into work.