A vulnerable man who starved to death months after his benefits were cut should not have been ruled fit to work, the Government has admitted.{jcomments on}

Prime Minister David Cameron last night described the death of Mark Wood as “tragic” following the admission by the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP).

And the DWP has now launched an internal review of the case.

The 44-year-old from Bampton had his benefits cut to just £40 in March last year after Atos Healthcare assessed him as being fit to work.

An inquest into his death in February, which concluded with a narrative verdict, heard he weighed just 5st 8lb when he died of malnutrition in August last year.

Mr Wood had obsessive compulsive disorder, Asperger’s syndrome, phobias of food, pollution, paint fumes, and social situations, and cognitive behavioural problems.

His sister Cathie Wood said the announcement was a “hollow victory” because it would not bring him back.

Read the full story in the Oxford Mail

Comments

Write comments...
or post as a guest
Loading comment... The comment will be refreshed after 00:00.

Be the first to comment.

Free PIP, ESA & UC Updates!

Delivered Fortnightly

Over 110,000 claimants and professionals subscribe to the UK's leading source of benefits news.

 
iContact
We use cookies

We use cookies on our website. Some of them are essential for the operation of the site, while others help us to improve this site and the user experience (tracking cookies). You can decide for yourself whether you want to allow cookies or not. Please note that if you reject them, you may not be able to use all the functionalities of the site.