Vulnerable Man Saddled With Bedroom Tax Debt Took His Own Life, Inquest Heard
A vulnerable man who saw his debt increase after being forced to contribute toward his rent due to the coalition government’s controversial ‘bedroom tax’ took his own life, an inquest heard.
The coroners court in Bolton heard how Mr Walker, 57, was left saddled with debt due to financial problems and being out of work.
It was also revealed that he had been found ‘fit for work’ following a benefit assessment and had strongly disagreed with the decision.
His financial situation worsened and was made intolerable after being told he would have to contribute toward his rent because of the ‘bedroom tax’.
The court also heard that Mr Walker had a problem with alcohol and was distraught when he was unable to buy gifts for this daughter because he had spent what little money he had on drink.
Households affected by the government’s ‘bedroom tax’ must contribute toward their rent through deductions in housing benefit where it is decided that their home is larger than their needs.
The so-called ‘bedroom tax’ policy, or spare room subsidy, has been slammed by opponents who say that there are not enough smaller social housing properties for those affected to downsize into, and that the policy causes debt and misery.
They also argue that ministers who have said that those affected could move to the private sector to rent a home are ‘out of touch’ with reality, because rents are typically higher that those in social housing and would increase housing benefit expenditure. To add to pressure faced by the government, Labour called for the policy to be scrapped last week.
Mr Walker was born in the West Midlands but mover to Wigan in 2001. He had previously lived in Weymouth where he worked in holiday camps. He had also worked in a hotel in Torquay.
Mr Walker’s ex wife Susan, told the coroner’s court:
“In the weeks leading up to his death a few things troubled him. He was out of work and struggling to pay a loan, and he was also still trying to pay for a place in Torquay which had been repossessed and sold for less than we bought it for.
“He didn’t really express his feelings but things upset him. I still tried to see him regularly because he had distanced himself from a lot of his friends and his family back in Birmingham.”
Ruling out any foul play after a post-mortem revealed no more than paracetamol in his system at the time of death, coroners ruled that Mr Walker had taken his own life.
Deputy coroner Alan Walsh said: “To some extent, his life was ruined by his inability to stop drinking.
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