Killed by benefits cuts: Starving soldier

[CFSKate]

www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/killed-benefits-cuts-starving-soldier-3923771

Diabetic David Clapson, 59, died with just £3.44 left in his account after his Jobseeker’s Allowance was axed because he missed an appointment

David once faced death on a daily basis as he served his country loyally in the terror hell of Northern Ireland.

And when he left the Army he went straight into the ­workplace with BT before becoming a full-time carer for his sick mother.

After she went into a home, diabetic David turned to the state for help while he looked for work.

But under the Coalition’s callous new benefits rules he had his £71.70 a week Jobseeker’s Allowance axed – merely because he missed an appointment with an adviser.

Stripped of his income, the 59-year-old could not afford food or electricity and died starving, ­penniless and alone at his home.

His death was from diabetic ­ketoacidosis – caused by not taking his insulin.

When David died he had just £3.44 to his name, six tea bags, a tin of soup and an out-of-date can of sardines. His electricity card was out of credit meaning the fridge where he should have kept his insulin chilled was not working.

A coroner also found he had no food in his stomach.

A pile of CVs for job applications were found near David’s body.

Yes, the govt has just published a "limited inquiry", in response to the sister's demands for a proper inquiry into sanctions.

I think a man died of starvation and I don't think there's any thing wrong with mentioning what was a huge achievement in his life when reporting that.

Other than that I could not agree more with your last paragraph.

I am not meaning to nit pick on this thread and have stayed of the other thread Nicki started

However I don't think Mr Clapson died of starvation.
He died from complications from his diabetes that were possibly cause by his not having the money to refrigerate his insulin
The problem was that he had no money for his electricity as his benefits had been cruelly and wrongly been stopped.
Mr Clapson had some food, some resources and a family that could have prevented his dying if he had taken his insulin

Also we don't know if Mr Clapson was proud of being in the army or if he felt it was an achievement at all. He served for two years and left.
Perhaps he utterly hated it and everything the services stood for and never ever wanted it mentioned...

I could not disagree more with you Ronald but I think it's in extremely poor taste to keep arguing these points on here and detracting from what could be a useful discussion so I am not going to do it any more.

The inquest did indeed say that he died from complications of diabetes.

But I think it's worth following up on Ronald's other points (not the stuff about the army).

He did indeed not have enough money to refrigerate his insulin.

But he also didn't have enough food to survive much longer anyway, being diabetic, and not enough money to buy more food.

He did have family, but they couldn't have prevented him dying unless they knew he had been sanctioned again. There are lots of reasons he might not tell them, particularly if their own budgets are tight.

I'm highlighting this because, unfortunately, there are lots of routes to die from sanctions. Some quick, some slow. I just want to make sure this isn't lost in the focus on the immediate cause of death in this particular case.

Not sure I understand why ronald is getting a pasting, can only assume there's some history.

I generally agree with her points, personally. I'm not that interested in why this story is being told now but the other points are all valid IMO.

That's is appalling. I'm in tears having read that. Absolutely appall

No history as far as I am aware, though she seems to know me. Where is she getting a pasting? Personally I took exception to her dismissive "meh!" with regards to his forces background, it seemed unnecessary and dismissive on such a thread and I acknowledged she had made valid points later.

There's a thread that I stared regarding David Clapson in AIBU. There are some good posts on there that address some of her points and as she is reading both it seemed unnecessary for me to do so here.

What happened to his pension from armed forces?

He wasn't in very long so it would be minimal and my forces pension won't kick in till I am 60, I think , actually I need to check that. I haven't thought about it for years.

I read this heartbreaking story in the mirror yesterday and was along with thousands of others Disgusted. The bravery this poor man had showed and this is how he is treated for missing an appointment ffs, Even perverts child killers and rapists eat. X

IloveChristmas
thank you for your helpful post.
I will pm you if I may.

Your point Dontgotosleep is very salient. Even those in prison for killing / child abuse, are fed, warm and have a bed. For a man to die of diabetes complicated / hastened by lack of nutrition in the 7th richest country in the world is utterly shameful.

firstchoice

reply sent

'Terror hell of Northern Ireland' was what I said meh to for clarity

I took exception to the quality of writing in this journalism not his forces background

This man is one of many that this Government, by their inhumane welfare reforms, have caused fatal consequences IMHO.

Yes he was claiming JSA and was found with a pile of CVs and job applications next to his body.

He was sanctioned for missing an appointment, my question on that one is: Was he actually aware he had an appointment? the DWP/JCP is well known for not sending out appointment notifications, I know this from personal experience.

Sanctions are being handed out superfluously for the most ridiculous reasons as stated here:

falseeconomy.org.uk/blog/a-list-of-completely-ridiculous-benefit-sanctions-people-have-experienced

Yes I agree that there are those who claim and have no intention of finding employment or who are not entitled to benefits, they deserve any sanction or punishment that is dealt to them, but the 0.7% figure is not just fraud it is also including DWP/JCP errors as well.

We will not know whether he just genuinely forgot or p[erhaps had a depression and was not 'thinking straight' that may be why he did not alert his family. It could also be pride. Despite all the headlines of the workshy with their big "fuck off" sky tvs etc there are a number who don't claim for half they are entitled to.

I am trying to remember from my time working in psychiatric hospitals what happens to those who have mental illness but are otherwise considered "able to work". I think they have a social worker to take/remind them of important dates but not sure.

I am forgetful myself but I signed on every Monday so just had to remember that.

Sadly, I reckon there are quite a few like him, whether they have been in the army or not.

Also, sadly we are being treated the same even if we do not abuse the system. I actually wonder of he was informed about this emergency money or not. Too often the forms are full of "If you don't do this...etc etc your benefit will stop". It actual makes me feel a bit cross that on every bit of paper I have from then , there are lots of warnings. I know again they have to generalise and some people will be amazed/outraged that if they don't turn up and sign on, they can have benefits removed, but again we are not all like that.

I think they have a social worker to take/remind them of important dates but not sure.

Hahahaha!

Sorry to laugh, but perhaps once upon a time.

My dsis is diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia, has been abused by the system and has huge trust issues (some of which have no roots in paranoia). She at one time had an amazing support worker who went over and above his duty in supporting her with forms, reminding her of appts, used to take her to CAB when she had financial issues, and wrote loads of letters of support on her behalf.

Then, he retired and his team was reduced from 14 to 4 for the entire borough. The manager is now off for the unforseeable future.

there are a number who don't claim for half they are entitled to.

I absolutely agree with this.

My dsis, for example, won't re-apply for a bus pass because she is certain that as she has been moved onto ESA means that she isn't unwell enough to need one. I can't convince her otherwise.

I've just transferred money over to her account because she is out of gas and electric. She has to travel 40 miles to outer London fortnightly to access independent rape and sexual abuse counselling, which she has waited for over a year. She is vulnerable on her own and gets easily lost/on the wrong trains etc and has missed 3 appts due to not getting there on time. They've now moved her back down the waiting list because of this. If I lived locally to her I would go with her, but she is adamant that I am not paying for childcare or travel for me & DC in the summer hols to take her.

I think they have a social worker to take/remind them of important dates but not sure.

This really doesn't happen. Dh has mental health difficulties, as well as physical difficulties. He has a CPN visit for an hour once a fortnight. We lost our two hours a week over two years ago, and no longer get any extra support.
Not that long ago I had cause to be in a secure unit. The chap visiting another service user was from doing a fit to work assessment. He had to get to his interviewee via two locked doors and had to have an escort. Out of interest I followed this up and yes, the chap was declared fit for work despite having been sectioned.
It's about numbers and absolutely nothing else.

The whole fitness for work assessment issue is just outrageous.

I can never get passed why it is that a person's GP cannot be trusted to establish whether someone is fit for work or not.

We trust them with far more competency in life threatening situations, and recently have given them the task of commissioning our local health services.

If they are unable to assess a person's individual circumstances, based on their clinical relationship with them over time, then they shouldn't be in the business! At least you can ask for a second opinion if you don't get on with them!

Sorry, going off on a bit of a tangent there.

How can a person who is accessed via 2 locked doors and you need a guard to go with you be 'fit for work'?

It is sad that there are only 100 odd posts on this thread.

There are more about pombears, ffs.

(I am not MN bashing at all here, just noting that, unless it is 'happening' to you or someone you know well, it is easy to 'brush it away' and not think about it).

Yes, it is deeply depressing that these really terrible things are going on, and yet we know that most of the people around us will be voting Tory in the next election (well around here they will, without hesitating for a second).

good god,do you really think many will vote tory?

There is a petition by his sister on change.org

www.change.org/en-GB/petitions/david-cameron-hold-an-inquiry-into-benefit-sanctions-that-killed-my-brother

Thanks for the link, Kate.