A devastating inquest has concluded that a young mother took her own life after receiving an erroneous letter from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) stating her vital benefits were being withdrawn. The coroner determined that the incorrect decision and the manner of communication had a very significant impact on her deteriorating mental health, directly contributing to her tragic death.
Timeline of a Tragedy
Tamara Jade Logan, a makeup artist, was found hanged at her home in Glossop, Derbyshire, on the 18th of May, 2025. She was subsequently transferred to Tameside General Hospital, where she passed away two days later. The senior coroner for south Manchester, Alison Mutch, recorded a verdict of suicide, with the medical cause of death listed as hypoxic brain injury due to hanging.
A Catastrophic Administrative Failure
The inquest heard compelling evidence that Ms. Logan's mental health sharply declined after she opened a DWP letter informing her that the enhanced daily living allowance portion of her Personal Independence Payment (PIP) was being removed. It was later established that this determination was incorrect.
In a damning Prevention of Future Deaths report, Coroner Mutch wrote: 'The decision to remove the enhanced payment has been accepted as an incorrect determination. The method used for communication of the decision was also not appropriate given her known vulnerabilities.'
Known Vulnerabilities Ignored
Ms. Logan was identified as a vulnerable person with a documented history of self-harm and suicidal thoughts. The DWP's own files were flagged to reflect these severe mental health challenges. She had been previously assessed as fully eligible for PIP, including the enhanced daily living component and the standard mobility allowance.
Despite this explicit awareness, the department sent a standard, unmodified letter announcing the cut. Coroner Mutch highlighted this critical failure: 'Despite that a standard letter was sent with no attempt to reduce the risk that receipt of the letter would cause.'
Systemic Checks Failed
The investigation revealed a disturbing breakdown in the DWP's internal safeguards. While the initial assessor conducted their evaluation correctly, the subsequent checking process—designed precisely to catch such errors—failed to identify the mistake.
'The purpose of the check was to avoid these errors being made and it was unclear why it had not picked up the incorrect approach,' the coroner noted in her report, listing this as a primary matter of concern.
Coroner's Formal Conclusions
Coroner Mutch stated unequivocally: 'On the balance of probabilities, the incorrect decision to withdraw her enhanced daily living allowance and the method of communication of the decision significantly contributed to her declining mental health and her actions on 18th May 2025, which led to her death.'
The formal report has been sent to the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, Pat McFadden, who is obligated to respond by the 19th of March, outlining what actions will be taken to prevent similar tragedies.
The case underscores profound questions about the handling of sensitive communications with vulnerable benefit claimants and the robustness of administrative checks within the welfare system.
