The DWP refuse to release statistics relating to suicides among those waiting for their claims and those who are going through review processes and those who have been sanctioned. They claim this is because it is "not in the public interest". Which i find to be nonsense and in my opinion, means that it doesn't make for positive reading on the DWP's part. All we know for certain is that suicide rates have been steadily increasing per 100,000 people since about 2008. This could be related to the story and as someone who supports assisted dying in some situations, is a cause for concern, however, i believe that the benefits system causes deaths right now and is set up to be punitive and degrading and is one aspect that few really discuss, in part, probably down to the refusal of the DWP to release the statistics on suicides.
Whatever people's opinions of the welfare state, it's reforms and how it is used, it should not itself be a cause of death or leading contributor to death for anybody using it.
I think speeding up the claims, reviews and appeals will help, but fundamentally, the claims process is confusing, degrading and lengthy. People feel despair and worthlessness which can only exasperate negativity in their lives...
