Benefit cuts blind man committed suicide after Atos ruled him fit to work

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Desperate: Tim Salter killed himself after his benefits were slashed following an Atos fitness to work test
A depressed blind man killed himself after he was left penniless because his benefits were slashed, an inquest heard

Desperate Tim Salter struggled to even feed himself when controversial private firm Atos ruled he was fit for work, despite his failing eyesight.

The 53-year-old, who also suffered agoraphobia, was about to be kicked out of his housing association home when he hanged himself in the hall.

A coroner ruled the Government’s decision to axe Tim’s meagre incapacity benefit contributed to his death.

And the former assistant store manager’s sister Linda Cooksey told how his fitness to work test was carried out by a physiotherapist with no ­experience of mental health issues or knowledge of his blindness.



Sister: Linda Cooksey
Jon Fuller Rowell/ Daily Mirror
The 60-year-old said his family never even knew about his money problems until after his death.

She added: ­“Stopping his ­benefits sent him over the edge. When his small savings ran out he got in trouble with his rent, and his £30 disability allowance a week just wasn’t enough.

"Tim ran out of money. He was a proud man and never let on to anybody. It’s so sad. I want everyone to know what this government is doing to ­vulnerable people on benefits.

“He had a certificate to say he was blind. When we got into his house there was no food, he practically starved in the last weeks.”

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South Staffordshire coroner Andrew Haigh said: “A major factor in his death was that his benefits had been greatly reduced leaving him almost destitute.”

Tim died on September 25.

An eviction letter from South ­Staffordshire Housing ­Association was found in the bin by his family.

He was registered partially-blind in 1994. His eyes were damaged when he tried to kill himself in 1989 after losing his job.

His family has written to David Cameron about his Atos treatment.

The housing association insisted help was available for those ­struggling to pay rent.

And the ­Department for Work and Pensions said Tim had the right to appeal its decision.

Verdict: Suicide.



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    Bastards serving a     Evil RW coalition government.

PMSL how daft can you get.

Was rage how Ghandi won independence for India?
No

Was rage how we won WW2?
No

Was rage how Mandela reconciled the people of South Africa?
NO

Do you want to carry on down the road of your stupidity?

....What about the Stonewall riots?

Without the rage that led to those there would never have been gay equality.

Oh yes, it was definitely rage, channeled rage, realising the injustice and feeling enough anger to do something about it. Rage doesn't have to be noisy. Channeled, it is quiet and calm, but keeps you fighting against the injustice, whatever way you chose to fight it.

Rage is the core, how you deal with it is different.

Catman wrote:....What about the Stonewall riots?

Without the rage that led to those there would never have been gay equality.

Absolute bollocks, the riots were the result of anger, but did it change anything at the time?

No

Sassy wrote:Oh yes, it was definitely rage, channeled rage, realising the injustice and feeling enough anger to do something about it.   Rage doesn't have to be noisy.   Channeled, it is quiet and calm, but keeps you fighting against the injustice, whatever way you chose to fight it.

Rage is the core, how you deal with it is different.

So you feel injustice to something that has not been proven to be an injustice.
Rage is never quite, it is violent and acts on that rage, something channeled is calm and rage does not allow for calm, you are talking out of your arse stasi, because a person in control does not lose it with anger and rage is anger uncontrolled

PhilDidge wrote:

Catman wrote:....What about the Stonewall riots?

Without the rage that led to those there would never have been gay equality.

Absolute bollocks, the riots were the result of anger, but did it change anything at the time?

No

They were the start of real change, without them then change would never have started..So they did achieve something at the time you moron.

Catman wrote:

PhilDidge wrote:

Absolute bollocks, the riots were the result of anger, but did it change anything at the time?

No

They were the start of real change, without them then change would never have started..So they did achieve something at the time you moron.

No it was the start of the gay community standing up for itself, it was not though the time for change

Cats, you will be drown in gloop if you continue, gloop, porridge, custard, gloop, porridge, custard, gloop, gloop, gloop.

....So that was a change then if gay people hadn't stood up for themselves in the past.   

Sassy wrote:Cats, you will be drown in gloop if you continue, gloop, porridge, custard, gloop, porridge, custard, gloop, gloop, gloop.

  

Oh I see we are back to where Stasi has no answer so she acts the imbecile after being shown to be woeful once again with a post of the mentality of a 3 year old

Bravo

 :D

Sassy wrote:Cats, you will be drown in gloop if you continue, gloop, porridge, custard, gloop, porridge, custard, gloop, gloop, gloop.

Ah yes, this must be the robust debate we heard so much about   

NemsAgain wrote:

Sassy wrote:Cats, you will be drown in gloop if you continue, gloop, porridge, custard, gloop, porridge, custard, gloop, gloop, gloop.

Ah yes, this must be the robust debate we heard so much about   

Check mate Didge

Obviously not read the thread, sad really, trying to stir for the sake of it.

NemsAgain wrote:

Sassy wrote:Cats, you will be drown in gloop if you continue, gloop, porridge, custard, gloop, porridge, custard, gloop, gloop, gloop.

Ah yes, this must be the robust debate we heard so much about   

Was there really any need for that.. get lost   

Catman wrote:

NemsAgain wrote:

Ah yes, this must be the robust debate we heard so much about   

Was there really any need for that.. get lost   

Not necessary either Phil tbh, probably best to keep out of it   x

Catman wrote:

NemsAgain wrote:

Ah yes, this must be the robust debate we heard so much about   

Was there really any need for that.. get lost   

  

feelthelove wrote:

Catman wrote:

Was there really any need for that.. get lost   

Not necessary either Phil tbh, probably best to keep out of it   x

I'm sick of her stupid comments on various threads tbf.

Robust debate with Didge is totally useless, and I think you will find Nems has said the same thing herself on various threads with him. I should ignore it Phil, they obviously had a little chat before they came on and decided on a battle plan to rile. Its very sad.

Catman wrote:

feelthelove wrote:

Not necessary either Phil tbh, probably best to keep out of it   x

I'm sick of her stupid comments on various threads tbf.

Maybe take these off Phil xxx

Sassy wrote:Robust debate with Didge is totally useless, and I think you will find Nems has said the same thing herself on various threads with him.   I should ignore it Phil, they obviously had a little chat before they came on and decided on a battle plan to rile.   Its very sad.

I have noticed a pattern   

Sassy wrote:Robust debate with Didge is totally useless, and I think you will find Nems has said the same thing herself on various threads with him.   I should ignore it Phil, they obviously had a little chat before they came on and decided on a battle plan to rile.   Its very sad.

For effort Sass, you couldn't be further from the truth.  You shouldn't judge people by your own standards, there is and never has been a gang or any collusion.  It's something you've dreamed up to excuse your past behaviour  

Oh please don't let this thread get out of hand and then locked.

Thanks.

 

Good evening Folks.

How over emotional you all are.

Can any of you tell me please how many people in the UK have committed suicide in the last.....say 30 years? That's people who have committed suicide due to financial reasons such as borrowing more money than they could pay back.

Whatever those figures are,can all of those deaths be attributed to the incumbent government at the time of the suicides?

feelthelove wrote:

NemsAgain wrote:

Ah yes, this must be the robust debate we heard so much about   

Check mate Didge

Thanks FTL she was already

 :/pwn://: 

PhilDidge wrote:

feelthelove wrote:

Check mate Didge

Thanks FTL she was already

 :/pwn://: 

 ://?roflmao?/: ://?roflmao?/: ://?roflmao?/:  That was you on this thread, and the majority of others you stupid prick.

Catman wrote:

PhilDidge wrote:

Thanks FTL she was already

 :/pwn://: 

 ://?roflmao?/: ://?roflmao?/: ://?roflmao?/:   That was you on this thread, and the majority of others you stupid prick.

Bravo to the muppet, and what did you bring to the debate?

That anger and rage are the way forward, no thank you, rational people do not think with rage

Sassy wrote:Robust debate with Didge is totally useless, and I think you will find Nems has said the same thing herself on various threads with him.   I should ignore it Phil, they obviously had a little chat before they came on and decided on a battle plan to rile.   Its very sad.

Dont judge me by your behaviour. You have a very selective memory

PhilDidge wrote:

Catman wrote:

 ://?roflmao?/: ://?roflmao?/: ://?roflmao?/:   That was you on this thread, and the majority of others you stupid prick.

Bravo to the muppet, and what did you bring to the debate?

That anger and rage are the way forward, no thank you, rational people do not think with rage

What were you like on the fox hunting thread you hypocrite moron!

...See what they're up to!

That Nems bitch started the trouble on this thread.

Now now boys & girls let's stick to the topic please.

Catman wrote:...See what they're up to!

That Nems bitch started the trouble on this thread.

Oy stick to topic  :::grouch:: 

https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/suicide_and_attempted_suicide_du

The request was refused by Department for Work and Pensions


    

Catman wrote:The request was refused by Department for Work and Pensions


    

They do not record suicides since under Labour

He is past it these days, good DJ though

PhilDidge wrote:He is past it these days, good DJ though

It's a very good political message!

..We were all very angry at that time, but i would suggest that far more people are a hell of a lot more angry now.

Catman wrote:The request was refused by Department for Work and Pensions


    

I wonder just how bad the numbers really are, disgraceful  

Do you really want to know what the stress of of an ATOS interview, does to a very passive individual?

Doug and i haven't haven't had a major row for about four years now...I currently have a black eye and cut above my eye....That was inflicted a few days ago.

This was a few days ago..'Why didn't you cover your face'..Well i wasn't expecting to be attacked..We've had discussions in the past that haven't resulted in such violence.

I thought that we got past the domestic violence issue many years ago..Seems like we are going to have to deal with that one again...

It was our 14th anniversary together on New Years eve, TBF...It was a very difficult evening, and we had friends over as well.

....Well we haven't had any kind of row for over four years..A few raised words between the two of us and that has been it!

It's the stress of the ATOS interview...I know for a fact.

PhilDidge wrote:

Catman wrote:
How can someone with agroaphobia, failing eyesight and with underline mental health issues including documented previous suicide attempts be fit for work you idiot, this murderous RW coalition has cut access to carers, you don't seem to want to acknowledge that services are being cut you cap doffer.
Easily, as has anyone provided evidence that he should not? This is why arguments over guilt are poor to say the least, they miss if there is a case in the first place of which I have seen no evidence to say otherwise.

He got into such a state and was probably waiting for his appeal to be heard and that takes a year and in the meantime he was being required to exist on £70 for food and bills which is impossible without getting into debt which led to the eviction notice and they do enforce eviction notices despite what another RW idiot has said on this thread.
Yes he did get into a state as some people react different to any given problem, and this situation made him react, it does not mean this is the norm or far from it but  rare event and you are allowing anger to cloud your judgement with poor woeful insults as per usual. The fact is if he is fit to work, what were they meant to do, still fund benefits to someone that can work? I see no evidence to state he could not work, if there is evidence and it is presented then I will happily say this was wrong, but none is forth coming. It is easy afterwards to claim something based upon a persons condition, when as seen we only have the side of the story given by the Mirror.  

The cretin ATOS monkey that made the decision should be sacked for a start and then this awful RW shit of a company should be kicked out of this country and sent back to France.

Why should they be sacked if the decision was correct, I have seen no person in a medical position state otherwise in the article, did you? The system is not perfect and again needs some work done on this, but the issue here is on whether it was the right decision and even then people can make mistakes, as plenty of GP's do each year with wrong diagnoses

  

BUT the ATOS "decision" wasn't "correct" in the slightest, Didge ! Everybody involved in "ATOS" should be sacked, and all government contracts pulled..

THERE were NO GP's nor specialists involved on ATOS's part, 'Didge ~ a contracted physiotherapist carried out the "suitability for work" "test", ignoring his specialists' certificates and actual conditions, as well as his GP ! And then an ATOS clerk signs off on his fate..
OH ~ and a coroner is a medical specialist TOO, Didge !

WHAT work is he supposed to do when the work simply ISN'T there, Didge ?  IT IS a fact of life that there are only 20% of the required job vacancies for disabled people ~ Wherever you go to in this world..    

NOT only was he partially blind, with degenerating eyesight, plus suffering from agoraphobia and depression ~ and the fact that he didn't access the help that was available should have sent warnings to those authorities, as it was an indicator of more serious mental issues fomenting in the background ~ but instead they elected to "punish" him, by severely restricting his income !

Something DEFINITELY stinks in a system where a government chooses to "help" the disabled by forcing them to "find" non-existent "work", and then cuts their income to below sustenance, when they are unable to find that non-existent work that the 'Minister for Screwing Over Welfare Recipients and Kicking Cripples' insists is out there !    

It's causing massive stress in people that would otherwise be quite passive, even though they have so much pain to deal with, they just about cope though.

The stress of Jan 7...It's tipping Doug over the edge...There is no way that he would have struck out at me like that, we've had heated discussions well in the past...We hadn't even had an argument...He just fucking lost it, it's been a weight on his mind...I know that he's been getting uptight about it..TBF..Perhaps i ignored the warning signs...But i didn't really know that he is at the stage that he is...

He shouldn't be having to go to this medical as his condition hasn't changed at all...I wouldn't lie about something like this...He's lashing out now..OK we will get past this...But we really shouldn't be dealing with this ATOS stress...  

I'm extremely unhappy about the situation..I mean..I wouldn't normally put up with my partner giving me a black eye...We both used to beat the crap out of each other when we were younger..for a few months or so about fourteen years ago.

There hasn't been any kind of violence for years upon years...At the moment i'm pushing him away quite a lot.....But i'm still there, whilst being a bit confused and upset...I know he feels bad about it...I'm just taking a step back i think.

We are both still 100% in favour of our relationship though.

If you were beating the crap out of each other years ago Mr Catman you should have known you will continue to do that.

And neither of you are "passive".

It sounds like you are both violent men.

I will give you the same advice anybody would give in this situation - get out of the relationship.

And good luck.

BigAndy9 wrote:If you were beating the crap out of each other years ago Mr Catman you should have known you will continue to do that.

And neither of you are "passive".

It sounds like you are both violent men.

I will give you the same advice anybody would give in this situation - get out of the relationship.

And good luck.

We've been together for fourteen years...The last time that we had a major argument was four years ago...

I think that any couple would have done well not to have a major argument for four years...Idiot!

Catman wrote:

BigAndy9 wrote:If you were beating the crap out of each other years ago Mr Catman you should have known you will continue to do that.

And neither of you are "passive".

It sounds like you are both violent men.

I will give you the same advice anybody would give in this situation - get out of the relationship.

And good luck.

We've been together for fourteen years...The last time that we had a major argument was four years ago...

I think that any couple would have done well not to have a major argument for four years...Idiot!

Arguments don't end with cuts and black eyes.

BigAndy9 wrote:

Catman wrote:

We've been together for fourteen years...The last time that we had a major argument was four years ago...

I think that any couple would have done well not to have a major argument for four years...Idiot!

Arguments don't end with cuts and black eyes.

Well that's the stress that ATOS medicals bring.