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Disabled People Have Died Due To Sanctions

“The Fatal Cost of Benefit Sanctions: How the DWP’s Decisions Led to the Starvation and Death of Disabled Individuals in the UK”

⚠️ Trigger Warning: Sensitive Content ⚠️

This article discusses distressing topics, including benefit sanctions, forced labor, starvation, and suicide. The content may be emotionally triggering for individuals who have experienced hardship due to the welfare system or have lost loved ones under similar circumstances. If you are affected by any of the issues raised, please consider seeking support from mental health professionals, advocacy organizations, or trusted individuals. You are not alone, and help is available.

For immediate support in the UK, you can contact:
📞 Samaritans – Call 116 123 (24/7, free)
📞 Mind – Call 0300 123 3393 (Mental Health Support)
📞 Citizens Advice – Call 0800 144 8848 (Benefit & Financial Advice)

**While able-bodied individuals who are out of work should be supported in seeking suitable employment, it is crucial that disabled people are assessed fairly, ethically, and with medical expertise, ensuring they are not forced into work that could harm their health or well-being.

Please read with caution and prioritize your well-being. 💙

“All lives matter and one death is one too many”.

Are Benefit Sanctions a Form of Forced Labour? Examining Legal Violations Under UK and International Law”

The fatal cost of sanctions in recent years has caused several disabled individuals in the UK to have tragically lost their lives from starvation and suicide after the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) ceased their benefits. These cases highlight critical failures in the welfare system’s safeguarding measures for vulnerable populations.

The concept of forced labor is prohibited under both international human rights law and UK law. If a person is effectively being forced to work under threat of destitution (such as through benefit sanctions), it may violate the following legal provisions:

1. International Law

2. UK Law

Application to Benefit Sanctions

  • If a claimant is forced to work under the threat of losing their benefits, this could be argued as forced labour under Article 4 of the ECHR and the Modern Slavery Act 2015.
  • The “menace of penalty” in ILO Convention No. 29 could apply to benefit claimants who are coerced into unpaid work placements under threat of starvation, eviction, or extreme hardship.
  • In 2013, the Court of Appeal ruled that the DWP’s Workfare scheme was unlawful because it did not give claimants proper information about the consequences of non-compliance (Cait Reilly & Jamieson Wilson v. Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, [2013] EWCA Civ 66).

While the UK courts have not definitively ruled benefit sanctions as forced labor, there is an argument that if sanctions force claimants into work under threat of extreme hardship, it could violate Article 4 of the ECHR and the Modern Slavery Act 2015.

Guidance for Claimants When Benefits Are Stopped

“What to Do If Your Benefits Have Been Stopped: Essential Steps to Take Immediately”

If your benefits have suddenly stopped, it is crucial to act quickly to prevent financial hardship. Here’s what you need to do:

1. Find Out Why Your Benefits Were Stopped

  • Check your Universal Credit journal or recent letters from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).
  • Contact the DWP via phone or online to get clarification.
  • If it was due to a missed assessment or incorrect information, ask for a reconsideration or appeal the decision.

2. Request a Mandatory Reconsideration

  • If you believe your benefits were stopped unfairly, you have the right to challenge the decision.
  • Submit a Mandatory Reconsideration Request in writing, explaining why you disagree with the decision and providing any evidence to support your case.
  • Keep copies of all correspondence.

3. Notify Utility Companies and Creditors

  • Utility Companies (Gas, Electricity, Water, Internet): Contact them immediately, explain your situation, and request a temporary payment plan or emergency credit if you are on a prepayment meter.
  • Banks & Creditors (Loans, Overdrafts, Credit Cards): Write an email or letter to your bank or credit provider informing them of your financial hardship and request a grace period to avoid penalties or late fees. Many lenders offer temporary financial relief in these circumstances.
  • Council Tax: Contact your local council and ask about hardship support or council tax reduction.

4. Seek Emergency Financial Support

  • Hardship Payments: If you are on Universal Credit or Jobseeker’s Allowance and your payments have stopped due to a sanction, you may be eligible for a hardship payment. Contact the Jobcentre to apply.
  • Local Welfare Assistance Schemes: Some local councils offer emergency grants or food vouchers for those struggling financially.

5. Access Food Banks and Charitable Support

  • Food banks can provide emergency food parcels if you are struggling to buy food. You can be referred to a food bank by your local council, Citizens Advice, or a GP.
  • Some charities and religious organizations also provide meals, essential supplies, and financial aid.

6. Speak to a Welfare Rights Advisor

  • Seek help from Citizens Advice, welfare rights organizations, or advocacy groups to ensure you get the correct support and guidance for reinstating your benefits.

By taking these steps, you can manage your financial situation while resolving your benefit issues. Acting quickly can prevent further difficulties and help secure alternative support while your claim is being reviewed.

Claimants That Tragically Died From Starvation

Errol Graham

In a troubling revelation, the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) expended over £50,000 of taxpayer funds on legal fees to prevent the disclosure of a safeguarding review concerning the death of Errol Graham. Mr. Graham, a 57-year-old disabled man, tragically starved to death in June 2018 after his out-of-work disability benefits were erroneously terminated, leaving him without any income. His emaciated body was discovered by bailiffs attempting to evict him from his Nottingham council flat, eight months after his benefits had been stopped. At the time of his death, the only food found in his residence were two tins of fish, both four years out of date. theguardian.com

The existence of the safeguarding review came to light through reports on Mr. Graham’s death. Despite the DWP’s extensive legal efforts, which included spending £35,600 on solicitors and £15,400 on a barrister, their appeal to withhold the review was dismissed. The Information Commissioner ordered the department in 2022 to release the results of the review, which the DWP had been trying to keep secret for two years. Consequently, the review was disclosed to Owen Stevens, a Universal Credit adviser at the Child Poverty Action Group, who had sought its release through legal channels. theguardian.com

This expenditure is part of a broader pattern, with ministerial departments in the previous government spending nearly £1 million in 2023 to block the release of various documents under the Freedom of Information Act. Many of these attempts at secrecy failed, with judges ruling that the public interest was best served by the release of official documents. The true expenditure on these legal battles is likely higher than reported, as many departments did not fully disclose their spending. theguardian.com

A DWP spokesperson stated that the department complies with Freedom of Information guidance but occasionally exercises its right to challenge decisions from the Information Commissioner’s Office, which can incur legal costs. These actions have drawn criticism, especially considering the department’s role in safeguarding vulnerable individuals like Mr. Graham. theguardian.com The case of Errol Graham underscores the critical need for transparency and accountability within governmental agencies, particularly those responsible for the welfare of society’s most vulnerable members. theguardian.com

Laura Winham

Laura Winham, a 38-year-old deaf woman diagnosed with schizophrenia, was discovered dead in her Woking flat in October 2024, having been deceased for approximately three years. Diary entries presented at the inquest indicated she was starving and lacked food and money. Her final entry mentioned surviving despite not shopping for food for an entire month. Her family estranged due to her mental health challenges and accused social and mental health services of neglect. The inquest also revealed that Winham had expressed concerns about transitioning to a new disability benefit, which was not addressed by the relevant authorities. theguardian.com

Sophia Yuferev

Sophia Yuferev, a talented artist experiencing significant mental distress, was found deceased in her Hornchurch flat in November 2021, weeks after her death. Both her ESA and Personal Independence Payment (PIP) had been terminated, leaving her without income. Her electricity had been cut off months earlier due to unpaid bills, and she had been surviving on one sandwich a day. Despite her family’s attempts to alert her mental health team about her financial struggles, no assistance was provided. The DWP conducted an internal review into her death, but the findings were not shared with her family. disabilitynewsservice.com

Conclusion

These cases underscore the dire consequences of inadequate support and flawed assessment processes within the UK’s welfare system. The DWP’s actions, including the termination of essential benefits without comprehensive evaluations of individual circumstances, have directly contributed to the suffering and deaths of vulnerable disabled individuals. There is an urgent need for systemic reforms to ensure that the welfare system effectively safeguards and supports those it is designed to help.

The Department by John Pring, Published by https://www.plutobooks.com/9780745349893/the-department/

This article does not even begin to touch on the countless individuals who have taken their own lives due to the trauma and emotional distress inflicted by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). The devastating impact of benefit sanctions, wrongful assessments, and bureaucratic cruelty has driven many to desperation, a reality extensively documented in John Pring’s book, The Department. As the editor of Disability News Service, Pring has uncovered harrowing cases where disabled people, already struggling with serious health conditions, were pushed to the brink by a system that should have protected them. Their suffering remains an unspoken tragedy, highlighting the urgent need for systemic reform and accountability.

Recent Developments in DWP Policies and Their Impact on Disabled Individuals

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Andrew Jones Journalist
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Andrew Jones is a seasoned journalist renowned for his expertise in current affairs, politics, economics and health reporting. With a career spanning over two decades, he has established himself as a trusted voice in the field, providing insightful analysis and thought-provoking commentary on some of the most pressing issues of our time.

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