The devastating human cost of the UK's benefits system has been laid bare by a grieving sister, who claims bureaucratic failures and a brutal assessment process led to her vulnerable sibling's suicide.
Amanda, who had severe physical and mental health disabilities, was left with just 7 pence in her bank account after her Personal Independence Payment (PIP) was stopped and she was forced onto Universal Credit. Her sister, Nicola, is now speaking out to prevent other families from enduring similar tragedy.
A Life of Struggle
Amanda's life was a constant battle against debilitating conditions, including fibromyalgia, arthritis, and crippling anxiety. For years, her Disability Living Allowance was a lifeline, providing crucial financial support for her independence.
That stability shattered when she was summoned for a PIP assessment—the replacement for DLA. Despite her evident struggles, the assessor's report was shockingly dismissive. "It was a work of fiction," Nicola states. "It claimed she had no issues with mobility or mental health, which was a complete lie."
Descent into Destitution
The decision to strip Amanda of her PIP had a catastrophic domino effect. Without it, she lost her Motability car, her primary means of leaving the house. She was then forced to claim Universal Credit, which plunged her into immediate financial crisis.
"The system didn't see a vulnerable human being; it saw a case file," Nicola explains. The five-week wait for a first payment, a notorious feature of UC, left Amanda with absolutely nothing. "She literally had 7p. She was choosing between food and heating. The humiliation and fear were unbearable for her."
A Preventable Tragedy
Despite Nicola's frantic efforts to appeal the decision and support her sister, the weight of the situation became too much. Amanda took her own life, a direct result, her family believes, of the despair inflicted by the system meant to protect her.
"She wasn't just a number," Nicola pleads. "She was a wonderful, kind person who was failed at every turn. I'm telling her story because this cannot keep happening. The system needs to change, and it needs to start seeing the people behind the claims."
The Department for Work and Pensions has faced continued scrutiny over its handling of vulnerable claimants, with this case highlighting the potentially fatal consequences of its policies.
