Scandal of the sick: Ill and disabled benefit claimants die waiting for vital payments

More than 1,000 sick and disabled benefit claimants died while waiting for vital payments in the past year, with 900,000 applicants facing a four-month wait for Personal Independence Payment (PIP) benefits, resulting in 1,300 deaths before a final decision was made. The planned £5bn welfare bill cuts by Chancellor Rachel Reeves have sparked backlash, with Labour MPs warning of potential delays in the system that could deny crucial support to those in need of assistance. The Public and Commercial Services (PCS) union called the number of claimants dying before receiving payments “an absolute scandal”, while campaigners believe the figures only scratch the surface of the crisis in the welfare system.

Full Article