'Cover-up': DWP destroyed reports into people who killed themselves after benefits were stopped

[Mike 03]

1. Under Iain Duncan Smith.

He was the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions under David Cameron.

More than 100 have taken place over the last decade, amid growing concern over deaths linked to harsh benefit cuts and sanctions introduced by Iain Duncan Smith.

When Ms Cooksey found her brother’s body, there was no food in the house, no money in his bank account and a letter from his housing association threatening him with eviction.

Mr Salter had been left partially sighted by a previous suicide attempt and had mental health conditions – but was found fit for work and had his benefits cut back drastically nine months before his death.

I remember the horror stories being circulated during the #CameronMustResign social media campaign. Some of them were beyond description, even hard to believe, like stories about terminal cancer patients being told that if they were healthy enough to board a bus to come to an interview, they were healthy enough to find work. Their benefits were denied.