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Alan McArdle
Alison Ravetz
Amber Rudd
Angus Robertson
Atos
BBC
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Black Activists Rising Against the Cuts
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Brian McArdle
British Association for Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapies
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Department of Social Security
Diane Hullah
Disability Murals Project
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Disability Rights UK
Disabled People Against Cuts
Disabled People’s Direct Action Network
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Psychologists Against Austerity
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The Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 receives Royal Assent.
The death of Stephen Carré after finding that DWP had confirmed its decision to find him ineligible for ESA.
Prevention of future deaths (PFD) report finds that the rejection of his appeal that he was not fit for work was a ‘trigger’ in Stephen Carré’s death.
Coroner Tom Osborne receives initial response to the Stephen Carré PFD from DWP permanent secretary Sir Leigh Lewis.
Coroner Tom Osborne replies to Sir Leigh Lewis, saying that DWP does not need to investigate the circumstances surrounding Stephen Carré’s death but does need to investigate use of medical evidence.
Coroner Tom Osborne writes to the father of Stephen Carré, saying he has received no “substantive response” to his prevention of future deaths report.
Calum’s List website is created as a memorial page to remember “welfare reform deaths.”
The death of Ms DE (Mental Welfare Commission for Scotland later launches an investigation into her death).
The death of Karen Sherlock, 2 weeks after she was told she would be eligible once again to receive Employment support Allowance (ESA).
Email leaked from Jobcentre managers to staff after a claimant attempts suicide after being told his sickness benefit would be cut off.
MP raises concerns over the death of Colin Traynor, whose family say they “hold the Government…personally responsible”.

25 September 2012

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.

27 September 2012

The death of Brian McArdle, the day after he was deemed “fit to work” following a work capability assessment (WCA).
Linda Wootton dies nine days after DWP upholds its decision to declare her “fit for work.”
The death of Stephanie Bottrill  – her suicide note blames the government’s “bedroom tax”.
The death of David Clapson, three weeks after having his jobseeker’s allowance sanctioned.
The death of Mark Wood after being found ineligible for Employment Support Allowance (ESA).
The death of David Barr, a month after the confirmation of the decision to find him fit for work, which his Father says was the trigger leading to his suicide. 

24 September 2013

The death of Michael O’Sullivan after being found fit for work.
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.
Inquest into the death of Michael O’Sullivan, where the Coroner concludes that the trigger for Michael O’Sullivan’s suicide was his assessment as being fit for work, and writes a prevention of future deaths report to DWP, saying that “there is a risk that future deaths will occur unless action is taken”.
The Mental Welfare Commission for Scotland publishes a report into the death of Ms DE, finding that the process and denial of Employment Support Allowance (ESA) were a major factor in her suicide.
The new Conservative minister for disabled people insists DWP is right to ignore reports of deaths linked to benefits.
DWP admits for the first time that it carries out investigations into some deaths of claimants.
Faiza Ahmed (known to her family as Sophie) dies by suicide, hours after telling a jobcentre work coach that she was suicidal.
DWP admits in a Freedom of Information response that it has carried out 60 peer reviews into deaths of benefits claimants.
Litchfield publishes fifth and final independent review of the work capability assessment, with no mention of the DWP’s own reviews into deaths of claimants.
DWP delays responding to freedom of information request on peer reviews into deaths of benefits claimants.
Labour MP speaks of “core visits” procedures, which are supposed to be followed when a  “vulnerable” person is sanctioned.
A man (name kept anonymous) dies by suicide after being rejected for both Personal Independence Payment (PIP) and Employment Support Allowance (ESA).
DWP admits that 40 of the 49 peer reviews into the deaths of benefit claimants it has carried out were in response to suicides.
The death of Sheila Holt, following a work capability assessment.
The Commons work and pensions select committee calls for a new independent body to investigate deaths of benefit claimants.
Black Triangle film listing people whose deaths are linked to the welfare system. 
DWP admits that 10 of the 49 claimants whose deaths were examined by peer reviews had had their benefits sanctioned.
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”.
DWP says coroners’ letters expressing concern about the deaths of benefit claimants are not handled by a specific official, revealing no centralised process for accountability.
The death of Moira Drury, after the removal of her employment and support allowance (ESA).

10 August 2015

The death of Frances McCormack. She left a note linking her hardship to the “bedroom tax”. 
DWP publish statistics on how many people died while claiming out-of-work benefits.
The death of Alan McArdle, an hour after being told that DWP was threatening to sanction him – stopping his employment and support allowance (ESA).
Information commissioner rejects complaint about DWP refusal to release peer reviews, supporting DWP’s’ response that this would breach data protection.
Mother of Mark Wood (who died after being found ineligible for employment and support allowance (ESA)) gives evidence to UN committee.
Ministry of Justice releases Stephen Carré prevention of future deaths (PFD) report. 
The death of Paul Donnachie, after his employment and support allowance (ESA) is removed.
DWP, in guidance to healthcare professionals working for Maximus, changes suicide from a “definitive” “substantial risk” if forced into work, to something that should be weighed against ‘benefits of employment”.
Coroner publishes prevention of future deaths (PFD) report into death of Sophie/Faiza (see 7 November 2014), calling for DWP to take action to prevent further deaths.
Information Rights Tribunal hears Disability news Service case against the information commissioner over its finding that DWP did not need to release peer reviews into the deaths of benefit claimants.
Disabled activists ask Scottish police to investigate ministers over work capability assessment (WCA) deaths.
DWP sends out reminder to staff about six-point suicide prevention plan.
DWP figures shows that of the 49 peer reviews into deaths of people claiming benefits, 18 of the people who had died by suicide had been claiming employment support allowance (ESA).
DWP releases redacted versions of 49 peer reviews, showing that ministers were repeatedly warned that policies were putting the lives of “vulnerable” claimants at risk.
The death of Susan Roberts, after being told she had lost a benefit appeal.
Kamil Ahmad, a disabled Kurdish asylum seeker, is murdered 
New reviews into deaths of people claiming benefits show DWP staff keep failing to follow suicide guidelines.
Freedom of information battle with DWP finds Maximus memo on suicide guidance and medical evidence was sent a few days after the existence of the Michael O’Sullivan prevention of future deaths report was first revealed.
The death of Lawrence Bond, hours after visiting jobcentre.
The death of Jodey Whiting, after being found fit for work, despite telling the DWP about her suicidal thoughts.
The death of Diane Hullah, linked to anxiety caused by the personal independence payment (PIP) application process.
Inquest into the death of Jodey Whiting fails to investigate DWP’s potential role in her death.
The death of Mark Barber, shortly after learning his disability benefits would be cut. Coroner mentions stress linked to reassessment for disability benefits.
Windrush scandal shows UK Government threatening, detaining, and deporting Commonwealth citizens. 
Department of Health’s national suicide prevention strategy fails to warn NHS of the suicide risk associated with employment and support allowance (ESA). 
The Commons work and pensions committee finds the assessment system is undermined by “pervasive culture of mistrust”.
The death of Errol Graham, months after DWP wrongly stopped his employment support allowance (ESA), and failed to seek further medical evidence.
Number of DWP investigations (internal process reviews) into deaths of people claiming benefits double in two years.
The sister of a man with learning difficulties says his death was caused by his move onto the government’s “chaotic” universal credit system. 
The death of Roy Curtis, six days after being asked to attend a face-to-face work capability assessment (WCA).
Ministers fail to include DWP in cross-government suicide prevention plan, despite evidence linking suicides with disability benefits assessment system.
DWP figures show thousands died after having personal independence payment (PIP) claims rejected.
DWP failed five times to follow safeguarding rules before Jodey Whiting’s suicide.
DWP figures suggest deaths linked to the work capability assessment (WCA) may have fallen.
The death of James Oliver, a few months after DWP’s refusal to grant him personal independence payment (PIP).
DWP responds to Justice for Jodey Whiting petition, saying it has “no plans” to hold an independent inquiry into deaths linked to its actions.
The death of Stephen Smith, following an 18-month battle with DWP over being found fit for work.
Senior judges rule to lower the standard of proof in determining suicide.
MP Debbie Abrahams asks the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) to investigate why evidence about deaths linked to the work capability assessment (WCA) was withheld from independent reviews.
DWP secures funding to set up an independent panel to examine cases where its own failings have led to the deaths of benefit claimants.
The death of Philippa Day, after she had been told she would need to attend an assessment centre for a face-to-face appointment to decide her claim for personal independence payment (PIP).
The death of Christian Wilcox, a few days before he is due to attend an appeal tribunal into DWP’s decision to remove his personal independence payment (PIP).
Disability News Service publishes five-year investigation into deaths linked to the work capability assessment (WCA).
The death of Errol Graham receives first publicity (he died in 2018).
The case of Errol Graham’s death is referred to DWP’s new serious case panel.
The coroner for Errol Graham says she will push DWP on promised safeguarding review (which persuaded her not to submit a prevention of future deaths (PFD) report). 
DWP admits destroying pre-2015 peer reviews into suicides and other deaths of benefit claimants.
MP reads list of 24 people whose deaths are linked to DWP policy, in Parliament.  
Coroner’s prevention of future deaths report into death of Faiza Ahmed is made public, showing jobcentre’s failings contributed to her death.
Death of Mercy Baguma, an asylum seeker from Uganda.  
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. 
Newly-released internal process reviews show that a number of suicides between 2014 and 2019 were linked to DWP staff’s failure to follow suicide guidance.
Coroner Tom Osborne files a Prevention of Future Deaths report on the death of Roy Curtis, but the DWP is not mentioned.
Coroner’s silence over why DWP did not give evidence at Roy Curtis inquest.
New analysis of figures suggests DWP is failing to investigate hundreds of suicides of benefits claimants.
High court is asked to order a second inquest into the death of Jodey Whiting.

26 December 2020

Deaths
Disability Assessments
Duty of Care and Safeguarding
Department for Work and PensionsMaximusPhilip PakreeContent Warning: Self harmContent Warning: Suicide attempts Content Warning: Death
The death of Philip Pakree, after distress caused by an upcoming work capability assessment (WCA).
High court hears evidence from family of Errol Graham in judicial review hearing.
Coroner at Philippa Day’s inquest finds flawed personal independence payment (PIP) system led to her death.
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.
Publication of DWP and Capita responses to Philippa Day prevention of future death (PFD) report. 
High court hears bid for second inquest into death of Jodey Whiting.
The mother of Ker Featherstone describes how he took his own life, just weeks after DWP cut his personal independence payment (PIP).
DWP figures reveal sharp rise in internal process reviews into the deaths of benefit claimants.
Judges reject attempt by Joy Dove, the mother of Jodey Whiting, to secure a second inquest into her daughter’s death, saying that individual mistakes, not systemic failings, led to death. 
Capita agrees to compensate Philippa Day’s family for failings leading to her death.
Coroner says DWP ‘must act’ after it told severely ill patient to leave hospital to make a claim for universal credit.
Coroner silent on why DWP was not questioned at inquest, despite ‘nightmare’ messages left by claimant on benefit assessment paperwork.
Shadow minister says he wants an inquiry into DWP deaths if Labour wins power.
Nine years on, family of Michael O’Sullivan win tribunal battle.
Figures show Internal Process Reviews (IPRs) into deaths and serious harm of claimants  have doubled in three years.