DWP errors 'added to woman's decline' before death

Mistakes by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) contributed to the declining mental health of a vulnerable woman before her suicide, a coroner has concluded.

Kristie Hunt, 31, known as Krissi to friends and family, died at Stepping Hill Hospital in Stockport, Greater Manchester, on 26 November 2023 after taking an overdose three days earlier.

She had been incorrectly told she owed money to the DWP for an overpayment of her Employment Support Allowance (ESA) and a civil penalty charge in the weeks before her death.

The DWP called Miss Hunt's death a "tragic case" but said the coroner had noted she had "many stressors" in her life.

Their statement added: "Our aim is always to provide the best possible support to those who need it, ensuring they can access the appropriate services."

Assistant Coroner Andrew Bridgman told an inquest at Manchester South Coroner's Court that it was not possible to say what triggered Miss Hunt's specific decision to end her life and recorded a conclusion of suicide.

He said the problems in her life, including the issues with the DWP, had: "Likely impacted adversely on Kristie Ann Hunt's state of mind and likely contributed to her actions."

The court heard Miss Hunt had aspirations to become a nurse and had worked as a carer, but struggled with serious mental health problems and drug addiction during her life.

The court heard her trouble with the DWP started after she began a new part-time job as a fundraiser in June 2023, following 13 years of being unable to work.

Miss Hunt called the DWP and told staff about her job, but informed them she was working less than 16 hours and earning under £167 per week meaning she was still entitled to claim ESA.

However, the department did not record her call properly and a counter-fraud investigation began when tax records showed she had started working.

Mr Bridgman said a DWP investigator wrongly added up payments she had received in June 2023 and concluded she had exceeded the £167 limit.

The investigator concluded she had therefore received a £149 overpayment of ESA which would need to be paid back.

Miss Hunt was also incorrectly handed a civil fine of £50 for not informing the DWP of her job, which she had done.

In his conclusions, Mr Bridgman also noted Miss Hunt had taken out a Social Support Loan of £345 from the DWP which would need to be returned.

On the day of her death, she had drained her bank accounts of all funds and had been drinking alcohol and smoking heroin, the court heard.

Mr Bridgman noted she had been diagnosed with bipolar affective disorder, emotional unstable personality disorder, adjustment disorder and had a history of self-harm.

Mr Bridgman also said Miss Hunt had relapsed into using heroin on a daily basis at the time of her death.

In a statement issued via the family's law firm, Leigh Day, her step-father Colin Barrow 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."

Her stepmother Jenny Barrow added she had "significant concerns" about the safeguarding of people in receipt of DWP benefits, particularly those with poor mental health.

Solicitor Leanne Devine, from Leigh Day, said: "No family should have to hear that DWP failings contributed to a spiral in their loved one's mental health, yet in our legal work we hear this kind of narrative again and again."

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