Two benefit claimants wrongly chased for money by the DWP - now they're dead

Daily Mirror

19-05-2025

Campaigners are calling for the Department for Work and Pensions to re-consider slashing benefits and warned that it is causing severe damage and in the worst cases, death
Two women who were wrongly chased for debts by the Department for Work and Pensions were both found dead after being tormented and threatened for months.
Kristie Hunt, 31, sadly died by suicide following an overdose in November 2023. The aspiring nurse was harassed for more than £1,000 in mistaken debt shortly before she took her own life. While mum-of-four Karen McBride endured the same problem before she was discovered dead inside her home in 2022.
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For Karen, her family reported that she "spiralling into a dark place" following an ongoing issue over "erroneous debt". Both of them faced losing their homes after the mishap, which took a toll on them mentally. It comes after Kristie, from Stockport, received disability benefits and had been diagnosed with a number of mental health conditions, and had a history of substance abuse and self-harm.
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She had been getting Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) and Personal Independence Payment (PIP). She rejoined the workforce after a 13-year break. But Kristie's call to the DWP to inform them of her new employment wasn't documented – and she was investigated by the counter-fraud team, was issued a wrongful penalty charge, and was chased to pay back ESA money falsely determined by the DWP to be an overpayment.
DWP urged to make major changes after three tragic claimant deaths - one starved
The DWP also sent incorrect information to Stockport Council, the inquest heard, which led to the local authority wrongly telling Kristie she owed more than £800 in housing benefit. It meant the DWP and the local authority were wrongly coming after Kristie for more than £1,000 for months, until just weeks before her death.
'At the time of taking the overdose there were a number of factors which on the day, or in the preceding days/weeks, likely impacted adversely on Kristie Ann Hunt's state of mind and likely contributed to her actions,' the coroner's conclusion read.
Leigh Day said: 'During Kristie's final call with the department about her ESA claim on 30 October 2023, she was noted to be confused and tearful throughout, yet she was not even asked whether she was okay.'
Colin Barrow, Kristie's stepdad said: "Knowing Krissi, she would have felt the pressures of the DWP reported debts. Even with the positive aspects of her new job she would have been in a panic.
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'She would have thought her flat would be in jeopardy. But she continued with her new job and looking positive. All the stresses she experienced close to her death would have been too much for her and she would have put on a brave face that she wanted people to see especially at work."
Karen's family said she had an "issue with housing benefit right from the beginning". She sadly died at the age of 46. The 2023 inquest into her death was told how Karen had also received a letter from Tameside Council in March 2022 telling her that her housing benefit had been suspended. She also received a letter from her housing association that she was in rent arrears, as her rent was paid through housing benefit.
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The "apparent issue" was her son turning 19 affecting her entitlement to housing benefit. Karen's daughter, Codie, said the debt was "pursued for many months" with letters continuing, but it turned out to be an error, reports Manchester Evening News.
"We now know that the housing benefit should never have been stopped, as regardless of my brother's age, mum was in receipt of Personal Independence Payment (PIP) which means her housing benefit entitlement would remain the same.
"She was desperately overwhelmed. She was spiralling into a dark place and whenever she rang to find out what was happening and asked about the letters she had received she would be told they were just automated and she should just ignore them. For mum, this was much easier said than done."
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Karen Milner, from the council tax team at Tameside Council, said the Department for Work and Pensions notified the council to say a 'non-dependent' was living at the house, but on the council's records it said 'dependent'. That's why, she said, payments to Karen were suspended.
Ms Milner said information was processed based on what details the council had and denied the council had made an error. Karen had been paid Personal Independence Payment (PIP) since 2016 – and that was extended after a review until July 2023, the inquest heard, but Ms Milner said the council was not notified it had been extended. The council, heard the inquest, thought that Karen had not been in receipt of PIP after February, 2020.
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The coroner said the inquest highlighted the "complexities of navigating the benefits system" and said the evidence showed she was "frustrated to the point of desperation", but ruled that he didn't agree 'the state' should have been aware of a risk to her life.
Protestors last week took over a DWP conference in Manchester and warned that more people will die if benefits continue to be slashed. It comes as Government statistics show 800,000 people will miss out on an average of £4,500 annually from PIP cuts. A further 150,000 people will lose carer's allowance, and almost three million will also lose out from changes to Universal Credit.
The government's own figures have shown the reforms could push 250,000 people into poverty. But ministers say £5 billion needs to be saved by the end of the decade.
A DWP spokesperson said: 'Our sincerest condolences are with the family and friends of Ms Hunt and Ms McBride in these tragic cases. Our aim is always to provide the best possible support to those who need it, ensuring they can access the appropriate services.'
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