Capita pays compensation to family of woman who died after benefits cut

[Northerner]

A government contractor has paid out “substantial” compensation following the death of a young mother who took an overdose after her disability benefits were removed.

Philippa Day, 27, a single mother from Nottingham who had longstanding mental health issues, died in hospital in October 2019, two months after taking an overdose. She had endured months of stress and anxiety after a long struggle with the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) and Capita to reinstate her benefits.

An inquest into her death identified 28 instances where “systemic errors” by both the DWP and its contractor had led to failures in the handling of Day’s claim. These failures were a “stressor” in her decision to take the overdose, the coroner ruled, although he was unable to conclude she had intended to take her own life.

In May, Day’s family issued a compensation claim for negligence to both the DWP and Capita. The latter subsequently agreed to settle out of court. The sum was not disclosed but is understood to be in line with what the family was asking for. The family said the money would be used to provide for Day’s son’s future.

Uncaring people treating desperate people like dirt at the behest of an uncaring government

 

[nonethewiser]

Got to hope that substsncial means millions, but no amount of money will compensate for the hurt that was caused. Disgusting that it ever happened & disgusting that they fought case, poor lady.

 

[Inka]

One would hope that there would be one person within a huge department that could of "stepped up to the plate". Problem is when the apathy takes a grip throughout.

It happens when the employers lose sight of the person behind the application. When you become just a case with a number, you’re just something to move about on a computer not an actual person.

This case is so tragic, poor lady.

 

[Inka]

Hi Inka, what is the answer?

Better training and a regular reminder of that fact maybe, along with some kind of procedure to refer on people who are vulnerable and/or whose applications are dragging on past a certain time.

Also, a far better contact system. It’s almost impossible to get through on the phone. Of course, they’ll say it’s because they’re so busy, but if they worked more efficiently they wouldn’t get so many calls.

 

[Inka]

I had a similar conversation about this topic the other day, but about the banks. Years ago, banks knew every single customer by face and in person. Now we are going further and further into digital worlds, with more and more remote appointments and management of customers, who will see these vulnerable people?

Or spot that they’re vulnerable. Sometimes you need to see or speak to somebody to realise.

 

[Northerner]

Capita and DWP were working under direct instruction to make the system as difficult and onerous as possible to navigate in order to drive down claims. We know this by the number of rejections and subsequent successful appeals by people who had the strength and tenacity to see things through - this necessarily makes life intolerably difficult for those unable to do so

This is from 2015:

Death has become a part of Britain’s benefits system | Frances Ryan

More than 80 people a month are now dying after being declared ‘fit for work’. The safety net that used to be there for the most vulnerable is being torn to shreds

www.theguardian.com

 

[Inka]

Awful @Northerner

 

[nonethewiser]

Capita and DWP were working under direct instruction to make the system as difficult and onerous as possible to navigate in order to drive down claims. We know this by the number of rejections and subsequent successful appeals by people who had the strength and tenacity to see things through - this necessarily makes life intolerably difficult for those unable to do so

This is from 2015:

Death has become a part of Britain’s benefits system | Frances Ryan

More than 80 people a month are now dying after being declared ‘fit for work’. The safety net that used to be there for the most vulnerable is being torn to shreds

www.theguardian.com

2016 Ken Loach film sums up how flawed DWP is, based around real events but using fictional characters it highlights how the vunerable in society become victims of unjust system, as did Philippa with tragic consequences.

Film is I, Daniel Blake, hard to watch at times dont mind admitting.

 

[daxsmith05]

Perhaps if people didn't vote for a criminal organisation that funds itself by swapping donations for expensive government contracts and has always been obsessed with money while always doing the wrong things to everyone else to get it.
Perhaps people with morals vote for a different party and any one of the others is better for the majority of people.
And perhaps remoing the undemocratic voting system would help.

 

[daxsmith05]

Tories are hard right wing like the nazis but in ruth are wrong about everything.
Al Qaeda think they are right and so did the provisional IRA and both are more legitimate than the tory party!

 

[Northerner]

2016 Ken Loach film sums up how flawed DWP is, based around real events but using fictional characters it highlights how the vunerable in society become victims of unjust system, as did Philippa with tragic consequences.

Film is I, Daniel Blake, hard to watch at times dont mind admitting.

Yes, that is an excellent, but deeply upsetting film