High Peak Liberal Democrats

Gill’s brother died after his benefits were cut, and now she can take the government to court over his death

Gill Thompson was outside the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) yesterday, with a banner of names of people she says have died due to benefit sanctions - including her brother David Clapson.

Three years ago, in July 2013, David was found dead in his flat by his sister. He had £3.44 in his bank account and the electricity had been cut off, hence the insulin he had kept in his fridge to stay alive was useless. He had died from diabetic ketoacidosis - caused by an acute lack of insulin.

The 59-year-old had served as a soldier in Belfast when younger, and found it difficult to get a job. Two weeks before he died, the DWP had sanctioned him for a month after he missed two appointments. His weekly Job Seekers Allowance payments had been stopped.

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