Coroner Rules DWP's Incorrect PIP Decision and Communication Contributed to Mother's Death
A coroner has concluded that an incorrect decision by the Department for Work and Pensions to remove a mother's Personal Independence Payment benefits, coupled with an inappropriate method of communication, significantly contributed to her declining mental health and subsequent death by suicide.
Tragic Sequence of Events Following DWP Letter
Tamara Jade Logan, a vulnerable individual with a documented history of self-harm and suicidal thoughts, received a letter from the DWP in 2025 informing her that her "enhanced daily living allowance" portion of PIP was being removed. This notification came as part of a routine reassessment of her entitlement to benefits.
Coroner Alison Mutch, presiding over the inquest into Ms. Logan's death, stated unequivocally that the decision to withdraw this enhanced payment has been accepted as an incorrect determination. Furthermore, she highlighted that the method used for communicating this decision was entirely inappropriate given Ms. Logan's known and recognised vulnerabilities.
Systemic Failures in Assessment and Checking Process
The inquest heard disturbing evidence about systemic failures within the DWP's procedures. While the initial assessment of Ms. Logan's entitlement was reportedly carried out correctly, the subsequent checking process—designed specifically to catch such errors—failed to identify the incorrect approach that led to the wrongful decision.
Coroner Mutch noted in her findings that it remains unclear why the checking mechanism did not detect these errors, despite its explicit purpose being to prevent exactly this type of mistake. This represents a significant breakdown in the safeguards intended to protect vulnerable benefit claimants.
Impact of Standardised Communication on Vulnerable Individual
Perhaps most damning was the coroner's criticism of the DWP's communication methods. Evidence presented to the inquest confirmed that the department was fully aware of Ms. Logan's vulnerabilities, with her paperwork clearly flagged to this effect.
Despite this crucial knowledge, the DWP proceeded to send a standard, unmodified letter announcing the benefit reduction. Coroner Mutch specifically noted that no attempt was made to mitigate the risk that receiving such correspondence would cause significant distress to someone in Ms. Logan's fragile mental state.
Direct Consequences of Administrative Errors
The consequences of these administrative failures were tragically immediate and severe. Upon receiving the DWP letter, Ms. Logan's mental health deteriorated rapidly and substantially. On 18th May 2025, she was found suspended and rushed to Tameside General Hospital, where she tragically passed away two days later on 20th May 2025.
In her formal conclusion, Coroner Mutch stated: "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 on 20th May 2025."
Broader Implications for Benefit Administration
This tragic case raises serious questions about the DWP's procedures for handling vulnerable claimants and the adequacy of safeguards within the benefits assessment system. The coroner's findings suggest that even when vulnerabilities are formally recognised, existing protocols may fail to ensure appropriate, sensitive communication that considers the potential impact on recipients' mental wellbeing.
The inquest has highlighted a critical need for review of both decision-making processes and communication strategies when dealing with individuals known to be at risk, potentially prompting calls for systemic reforms to prevent similar tragedies in future.
