An internal email sent by senior managers warns that ill-handling of benefit changes could have ‘profound results’ for vulnerable claimants
Senior jobcentre executives have warned staff of the risk of benefit claimants attempting suicide as controversial changes to sickness benefits are being pushed through.
The warning, contained in an internal email sent to staff by three senior managers of the government-run jobcentres, warns staff that ill-handling of benefit changes for vulnerable claimants could have “profound results” and highlights the case of one suicide attempt this year.
It emphasises the need for the “utmost care and sensitivity” when dealing with customers, as a result of “difficult changes which some of our more vulnerable customers may take some time to accept and adjust to”.
The email, adds: “Very sadly, only last week a customer of DWP [department of work and pensions] attempted suicide” – which it adds is “said to be the result of receiving a letter” informing him that his sickness benefit would be cut off.
The memo will crystalise concerns among charities, campaigners and medical professionals over the impact of welfare reforms on the mental health of some of Britain’s most vulnerable people.
Disability campaigners privately warned ministers last year that flaws in the work capability assessment, would lead to some mentally ill people taking their own lives. But they said they were accused by ministers of scaremongering.
Neil Coyle of the charity Disability Rights UK, said: “The government is cutting direct support for thousands of disabled people and using a process to do so which is unfit for purpose. The assessment process for out of work benefits needs urgent improvement to ensure genuine needs are identified properly and to avoid further tragic consequences.
“We and our members warned the government – and DWP especially – of the impact of cuts in support but the problem has been swept under the carpet in the rush to deliver cuts in welfare expenditure. Numbers on a balance sheet have been considered more important than the lived reality of disabled people sadly.”
The memo was sent in late April, days before the controversial change of time-limiting contributions-based employment and support allowance was introduced, which will see thousands of sickness benefit claimants with a working partner or some savings lose up to £91 a week in support.
The email sent to jobcentre staff emphasises the importance of being “empathetic” with vulnerable clients, “taking the time to properly understand their circumstances … and talking through their options or signposting them to other sources of support/advice”. It adds: “The consequences of getting this wrong can have profound results.”
The Rutherglen and Hamilton West Labour MP Tom Greatrex said: “The DWP should take seriously the potential impact its decisions can have on people’s lives.
“The ‘one size fits all’ nature of the work capability assessment is at the root of the problem. A crude computer test of fitness to work leaves little room for a consideration of the affect on mental health.
“It’s not just those with pre-existing mental health problems who are at risk. People suffering from conditions such as Parkinson’s and cancer find themselves in distressing situations, with added anxiety caused by these tests. At a time when they need help, too often they feel they are being hounded.”
A DWP spokesperson said: “It remains rare to find incidents of self-harm where the benefits system is said to have been a factor, but we are not complacent when it comes to ensuring that our staff can provide the right support and help to those affected.
“We ensure our staff are highly trained and ready to help people, however vulnerable they may be and whatever pressures they face.
“We have worked hard – and continue to do so – to improve the way the work capability assessment works for those with mental health issues, but it is right to reform the welfare system. The old incapacity benefits system let down too many people by simply writing them off to a life on benefits, which did nothing for their well being.”
But the Public and Commercial Services (PCS) union, which represents Jobcentre Plus staff, says that they feel ill-equipped to deal with the volume of work, vulnerable claimants and cutbacks.
One jobcentre telephone advisor told the Guardian that the change had been handled “abysmally” and that they feel ill-equipped and “helpless” when talking to distraught customers on the phone, who are phoning up to ask about other options.
“A lot of them are very distressed. They are asking us what to do … how are they supposed to live. And there’s nowhere else we can signpost them to, there’s literally nowhere for them to go.”
Several coroners’ reports into suicides have mentioned benefits decisions as a contributory factor, but ministers have always been careful to avoid acknowledging a link.
The Guardian has spoken to dozens of benefits workers and recipients as part of an investigation into the problems faced by Britons living on the breadline and identified three separate cases of attempted suicide among people where changes to their benefits appeared to have been a factor. Several others claimed to have felt suicidal.
Speaking in the Commons recently, the employment minister, Chris Grayling, said: “We will always look very, very carefully indeed where something like that happens. So far my experience is that the story is much more complicated. But that does not mean we are not doing the right thing.
“I passionately believe that we should be helping [people], particularly those with mental health problems. I have met people who have been out of work for years and years and years with chronic depression who we are now beginning to help back into work. We have got to be very careful but we do look very carefully when those situations arise.”
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Grayling lying rthrough his back teeth again….. All this is bollox. I suffered a severe mental breakdown, attacked a loved one and myself after my first atos so i know for a fact its far worse than ever reported.
Its like medicinal science, the evidence of damage is there and blatantly so but it serves no purpose to the agenda so only report what sounds little compared to the lot……. All effing bullshit. They really are the scum of the scum arent they.
the suicide of benefit claimants is looked upon by the government as “fringe benefits” they dont care, dont you think the government knew exactly what the results were going to be before rolling out this disgusting atos crap….., and please dont come back at me with the “government was naieve crap” they are treacherous methodical bastards!!
I have become a stoical person with regard to my debilitating disabilities but as my ATOS assessment which was done in a cursory rushed way.
I felt so humiliated and desperate that despite having a supportive family I felt utterly despairing. I rang the Samaritans in the dead of night and talked for an hour- they were very good. however 2 days later i felt suicidal and actually wrote suicide notes- one to my partner and another to my beloved son. Luckily a close friend rang me who can read between the lines: with tears streaming down my face i talked with her and she honestly saved my life. Instead, I gradually got angry and am now using that energy to fight back. I was turned down for the support group and no longer get wrag money as i’ve had my years worth- bastards.
Will take it to appeal and never give up. THEY SHALL NOT PASS. I dread to think of the ATOS effect on people with mental health problems. My heart and support goes out to them.
do they care no do they support the rich who cant even pay their taxes yes do they care about those who give up and take their lives no its only money and the cuts to our benefits are so large now they outweigh the banks deficit whot they pay back so these that rule us none labour aswell as the house today on benefit cuts was just about empty most where out stuffing themselves and a odd drink or to to wash it down,while they should have been showing whot the torys can do with their benefits cuts,but once again showing themselves up heads in their troughs feeding while most of us have our money stopped and cant even afford any food at all so mps theres more of us who die over the winter months lack of food no roof over ones head why no bloody benefits tine limited unbeleavible work all your life for whot grubby hands of those not deemed fit to lick the boots of those they kill darm them all may they loose whot little we had jeff3
Damn right Jeffrey. I worked all my life until disability prevented me working. All those years of National Insurance..no bloody insurance in the end. No wonder people are suicidal. Double-standards,
under-class Britain. While we suffer and perish, they are supping SUBSIDISED wine in the House of Commons Bar. Damn them all.
Many MPs that don’t get elected again claim their early retirement grant on the grounds of ill health, and still keep working elsewhere!!!, I read about that years ago. You can be sure of one thing Atos won’t be asked to do the medical assessment (although I think even if they did the MPs would still get their ill health retirement grant).
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“If an MP stands down during the course of a Parliament for ill health reasons, an ill health retirement grant is payable, calculated in the same way as the Resettlement Grant (as well as an immediate pension based on the service the MP would have accrued if he or she had continued to serve until age 65).”
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salaries_of_Members_of_the_United_Kingdom_Parliament
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We should ask for a FOI on how many ex MPS have got their early pension at FULL rate on grounds of ill health…You would get an almighty shock!!!!!.
“on the grounds of ill health, and still keep working elsewhere!!!,”
“We should ask for a FOI on how many ex MPS have got their early pension at FULL rate on grounds of ill health…You would get an almighty shock!!!!!.”
The above is a major scandal waiting to be fully exposed.
I despise ATOS. They are an absolute disgrace. Not only do they lack understanding towards physical disabilities, but they have no understanding whatsoever towards mental health disabilities. I have been on Incapacity Benefit since my last paid job, where I was severely bullied, sexually harrassed and sexually assaulted within the workplace. All of this happened a year after having survived being raped. I had a nervous breakdown, just couldn’t cope anymore. I had to live with my mum for three months as I was suicidal. I’ve had two relapses within the last two years, one of those relapses was related to being called up for another medical assessment by ATOS. I had reqested a home visit as travelling to places I don’t know can cause severe anxiety attacks. ATOS kept me waiting over 3 months for a decision as to whether I could have a home visit. I kept having to call them to find out what was going on. After all the stress and overwhelming pressure they put me under, I was told there was no need for me to have an assessment at that time. I have been trying to do volunteer work and I also help take care of my mum. Just when I think I’m starting to cope and making small steps towards recovery, I have now been called for another ATOS assessment. And I’m ashamed to say I have had suicidal thoughts ever since. In fact, those thoughts entered my head when the changes to incapacity benefit came into effect, and they have only got worse since receiving the ATOS medical form. I sat with my therapist today and said I wanted to die, I couldn’t cope with the humiliation of ATOS anymore. I’m trying so hard to change my life, but they don’t see it has to be changed slowly. They treat people like me as ‘numbers’ to be dealt with and got rid of. The stories you read and hear about peoples experiences with ATOS are very real, it is not ‘scaremongering’. I know, because I am one of those people.
Dear Simone
I really feel for you. All of us are in a sort of catch 22 with mental health problems. If we do attempt to do something usefull to try & improve our mental health, there is the fear that we will then be considered capable of full time work. Thus undoing any progress we might have made.
When I was asked about my barriers to work I made an unflinching “personel inventory” & shared the conclusion that ‘I was old, wierd & their are no jobs’. What else in my case is there to say.
Yes, I agree. It’s similar with physical problems too.
Its a sickening joke isnt it, they categorize us all as, all fit for work under a guise of ‘we want to but have been unable to find work’ or we all need a little push due to lack of motivation.
We are all labled malingerers, despite mental and/or physical condition and now they are separating us into one or the other yet most of us have both anyway.
Its safe to say, a physical condition affects the mental state and vice versa…… It matters not, who is most ill whatsoever, i for a start can only imagine a life of what condition i do not have as others can only imagine how it would to be me in my situation.
Each of us are disabled in some way, only as individuals can we know the extent of our conditions.
We must never compare our illnesses against anothers, never!
To do so would break the solidarity strength we have as the victims we all are!
Who is to say ones pain thresh hold is weaker than another? Who cares?…… What does matter is we all are victims of a fascistic agenda to rid the weak and vunerable….
But we all know, we may be dysfunctional, we may have bodies that are not strong, in pain, hell to live with, but we are people, we are alive, we have families, we have years of ewxperiences and we are all equal to another in life, every life is as important as any, we need remember we are in this together, it doesnt matter about how ill, or whats worse a condition we are all being forced to do what we cannot .
Having read through my last post i respect it may seem as if im saying people are claiming to have it worse than others.
Im not implying that at all whatsoever and indeed see all stories here on this site are extremely horriffic, to Simone my dear, my heart goes out to you for your personal story posted.
My intention of my last post is to express my annoyance of governments latest attempt to separate the mental and physical conditions, as i said, to have one, will result in the other anyway.
My point is, i feel that they see our solidarity as too strong and thus are attempting to separate us, i wanted to nip that in the bud.
I understood you perfectly Ann! We must stick together-united we stand- this cannot be emphasised too much.
We all deserve respect- disability is not for wimps, as one wise person said. How brave we are, how resourceful and determined. Not only do we find ways of getting through each difficult exhausting pain-ridden day, we deal with unbearable feelings and the humiliation and fear, well, terror, engendered by disability deniers, namely ATOS and subhuman Ministers of this shambolic cruel “Government”. I am going through a nightmarish DWP limboland at the moment- too complex to write of as my energy is so low. Every time I have to ring the dreaded ESA line my partner says to me- “remember-you are as important as everyone else”. Every time a DWP letter lands on the mat he brings it to me in bed, holds my hand and says “we’ll deal with it, no matter what it says”. My heart races, I sweat,I shake and together we open it. I am so lucky to have him with me, if he were not there, I would probably be in a psychiatric ward now- I mean that. I think those who deal with all this on their own should be awarded the Victoria Cross for bravery. For those of us who have perished due to murderous Gov policies, may they rest in peace. May their murderers be brought before the Crown Court. Condems-THEY SHALL NOT PASS! We SHALL prevail.
Well said Lou, you are so right.
Your partner sounds delightful and il confess, had i not had my wonderful supportive friends around me over the last 2.5 years? I would have been one of the following….
institutionalised
imprisoned or
successful in suicide. (all could have happened esp with no medical backing)
As i say in another post, those who have lost their lives in this brutal welfare theft are truly martyrs.
To me bravery isnt about staying alive and those who have indeed died through despair have left a proof of evidence as to why they took their lives.
Government and its cohorts like DWP and Atos (or as i refer to them ‘flies n sh!t’) are to blame and i believe they will be held accountable soon enough.
We have all stood so firm and all they do is keep trying to destroy us, but after 3plus years of their hounding, bullying, murderous rein, we still aint broken, we still fight back, we still have a voice! Thats why they want to separate us, we aint so stupid, and as u say, we are strong because being, disabled, being dysfunctional etc aint for the weak ones, we face predjudice, pain, struggle, accusations, bullying and more besides, we quite literally stand with much much more strength than any half arsed narrow minded idiotic politician, thats always gonna be their flaw hon.
They aint ever gonna ‘get it’ are they.
I agree the poor and desperate ones out there alone are indeed in trouble, i wish the support we have was spread evenly amongst us all.
To begin with i have lost £90 a week because i’ve been ill for too long, i could drop dead at any point but that doesn’t seem to matter. I have been called a liar, a cheat and spoken to like i asked to get ill. My partner is also seriously ill, brain tumor, hydrocaphalas, stroke, epilepsy and high blood pressure. So as well as been ill myself i am also his full time carer as theres no one else to look after him. Today we recieved another letter to say that his money will be going down very soon. We can’t pay our bills now with the cut we have already had, were starting to think we’d of been better off not getting treatment and waiting to die. Maybe then we could save this govenment some money. I’m at a loss what i can do next, no one want’s to help sick people. Were just as bad as the people who are FIT to work but just want to be dossers. Maybe we just need to give up and let them ruin us.
How dare they do this to you and your partner Caroline. They are utterly despicable. Can you find an advocacy worker from a disability charity to challenge the bastards? i did this recently and it has made a difference to me because I feel I have someone who knows her stuff on my side.
please don’t give up. Never stop challenging and fighting back- you are as important as everyone else. THEY SHALL NOT PASS!
Thank you for your comment Lou, all we can do is fight. We havent come this far to give up now. Yesterday was the straw that broke the camels back. Today we are back fighting with a vengance. I refuse to let them make me or Michael more ill with worrying. I’m going to have a ring around on Monday to try find out if theres anything else we can do. I now have another “ATOS” interview, second one in 4 months coming up. I can let you know if i come up with anything. We need to do something before its too late.
So glad you have been able to regain your fighting spirit. It’s not easy-I know that all too well myself, but somehow we manage to do it! I wish you every good luck wish for your ATOS nonsense appointment. Are you going to take someone with you? It’s good to have a witness and to ring DWP the next day to get a copy of your medical report (hope I’m not teaching you to suck eggs here). I too lost my ESA (had it for a year) but am fighting an appeal at the mo’ as I should be in the Support Gp anyway. You are right. We have to keep fighting. NEVER GIVE UP, as my wonderful grandfather used to say. Take care, Lou.
I am disgusted by the treatment you have endured anyone with an ounce of decency will be.
But, you have to remember its not dole dossing scum causing this to happen to you, if you believe it is? You are falling for govs bull.
Its gov doing this to you not anyone else. I realise youre in dire trouble and realise everyone here is. You have to know who is sh*tting on you though or your falling into governments trap of blaming others for governments agenda…… Its them and only them.
No money is being nor has been saved its not really about saving money its about destroying the everyone
I hear you 100% about the govenment, i’ve expressed our concerns to David Cameron, the letter we recieved back said that we should of saved before we got ill. All excuses but the fight shall go on.
Youre joking??? That response truly needs media coverage hon, have you thought about copying it and sending it to The Guardian or Independent? Maybe even have admin here make it an article.
I do respect you dont want your private life invaded and such a step may well invade. Worth pondering though.
Yes. Camerons the unelected is a scummy turd and the entirety of parliament are the flies hovering.
I feel for you and your patner, it sickens me that people are being shat on from the rich, born into money scum who no nothing about reality of the common man but make orders and demands only they profit from.
My heart is with you both
Sadly i’m not joking, i would love to share the letter but don’t want the to be in the limelight. Thank you for your advice. Word’s can’t describe what i think of the govenment.
Words fail me…how could Camoron even in his wildest dreams think it acceptable to tell you you should have saved before you got ill? It shows his ignorance about people’s real lives and his breathtaking arrogance. Besides as The Prime minister this is unprofessional conduct and as well as this, how can a man with a fortune of around £30,000,000 who has inherited wealth dare to comment in this fashion? He’s got to go. NOW!
I understand you not wanting to be in the limelight, but could your MP take this up on your behalf?