Saturday, December 28, 2013

Blind man committed suicide after Atos ruled him fit to work

Desperate agoraphobe Tim Salter was left penniless when his benefits were slashed despite his failing eyesight and he faced eviction

Desperate: Tim Salter killed himself after his benefits were slashed following an Atos fitness to work test
Desperate: Tim Salter killed himself after his benefits were slashed following an Atos fitness to work test


A depressed blind man killed himself after he was left penniless because his benefits were slashed, an inquest heard

Desperate Tim Salter struggled to even feed himself when controversial private firm Atos ruled he was fit for work, despite his failing eyesight.

The 53-year-old, who also suffered agoraphobia, was about to be kicked out of his housing association home when he hanged himself in the hall.

A coroner ruled the Government’s decision to axe Tim’s meagre incapacity benefit contributed to his death.

And the former assistant store manager’s sister Linda Cooksey told how his fitness to work test was carried out by a physiotherapist with no ­experience of mental health issues or knowledge of his blindness.

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