David was 59 years old and had been seriously ill for many years. He had ME, fibromyalgia, and diverticulitis conditions that left him extremely tired, confused, and often in pain. These illnesses also caused him to lose control of his bladder and bowels, and he needed incontinence pads to stay clean. Even simple things like walking a few steps became almost impossible for him. He would often fall after taking just a few steps. Life was very hard for him.
A few weeks before he died, the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) stopped giving him the Personal Independence Payment (PIP), which was the money he relied on to manage his daily needs. This happened because David didn’t return a long and complicated form they sent him. But according to his sister Susan, David was too unwell to fill it out, and he couldn’t even walk to the mailbox to post it. His broken mobility scooter made things worse, and he probably didn’t have any credit on his phone to call for help.
David lived alone, and without support, things went from bad to worse. He ran out of incontinence pads, and with no way to get more, his flat became covered in his own waste and blood. He was too weak to clean himself or his home. When Susan didn’t hear back from him after several messages, she grew worried and called the emergency services. That’s when they found David’s body in the flat, in heartbreaking conditions.
Before he died, David wrote a note by hand. In it, he talked about how sick he was, and how he was bleeding heavily every day. He wrote about how hard it was to live with incontinence and how he felt like he was losing control of everything. It was clear that he was suffering deeply, not just physically, but emotionally too.
Susan believes the DWP made a huge mistake when they took away his benefits. She said he was already living in poverty, and losing the little support he had pushed him over the edge. She also said the DWP didn’t do proper checks to make sure he was okay before they stopped his money. If they had looked into his case more carefully, she believes her brother might still be alive.
Even more upsetting, the DWP had actually decided to give David his benefits back. They sent him a letter saying his PIP would be reinstated starting February 20. But that letter arrived too late—David had already died on February 19.
Susan is now warning others that what happened to her brother could happen again if the government goes ahead with plans to cut £4.5 billion from welfare. These cuts would make it harder for people like David—who have long-term physical or mental health issues—to qualify for support. It’s feared that nearly 400,000 people could lose the money they need to live with dignity.
The DWP has responded by offering condolences to David’s family and said they are investigating what happened. But for Susan, no apology can bring her brother back. She wants people to know his story so that others don’t suffer in the same way.
