DAVID Barr, 28, threw himself from the Forth Road Bridge just weeks after finding out that his employment and support allowance would be withdrawn because assessor ruled that he was fit to work.
A HEARTBROKEN dad has blamed benefits axemen for driving his ill son to
suicide weeks after being told his money was being stopped.
David Barr, 28, threw himself from the Forth Road Bridge after learning the decision to stop his benefit had been upheld.
An Atos assessor had ruled David was fit to work despite being on anti-psychotic sedatives, sleeping tablets and antidepressants. His condition was recorded on a medical assessment as “anxiety and depression”.
But his dad David snr, 57, said he had a host of problems including sleeplessness, memory loss and paranoia – and believes he may have been a schizophrenic.
David was assessed in May. In June, the Department of Work and Pensions told him he was fit to work – and his employment and support allowance was being withdrawn.
In an appeal letter, David wrote: “I disagree with your decision that I am fit for work. I have serious mental health problems that prevent me from doing everyday tasks which means I cannot work at this moment in time.
“I did try and explain this to the medical examiner.”
He was informed on July 17 of the DWP’s final say – they backed the Atos recommendation.
On the evening of Friday, August 23, he got a bus to the bridge, walked to the middle and jumped. He was recovered from the water but died in hospital that night.
David snr, of Leven, Fife, said: “He needed 15 points to ‘pass’ the test and get his benefits but he only got six. I know the difficulties he had – he should have got 106 points.
“The assessment is ridiculous. They said David was fit for work but, in fact, he was fit for hospital.
“I’m in no doubt this matter was the final straw. I would say they are 90 per cent to blame for him taking his life. He’d just had enough.
“I wish we could have got him checked out, even sectioned if necessary, and placed in a hospital where he could have received proper assessment and care.”
“I just hope something can be done so no one else has to go through this.
“We are devastated by our son’s death. David’s mum is in hospital and hasn’t eaten since David died. She is completely broken by this.”
David jnr worked cleaning buses for three years until 2011. His dad says his son could not cope with the routine of holding down a job.
He said his son was placed on strong medication last year but said his mental health had worsened.
David snr added: “He would claim people were trying to poison him but it was all in his head. He thought the police were following him.”
David’s assessment summary states: “Mr Barr has a mental health problem. He takes triple medication...He reports self harm in the past.
“He reports he attempted an overdose six weeks ago but he would not say what he took. He reports he has had no thoughts of suicide since.
“The evidence overall suggests that he is not at substantial risk.”
David snr is in the process of complaining to the DWP.
The DWP and Atos sent their sympathies to David’s family. A DWP spokeswoman said: “Through a series of independent reviews and by working with medical experts and charities, we have considerably improved the work capability assessment process since 2010.”
An Atos spokeswoman said: “We do everything we can to minimise people’s anxiety during the work capability assessment process and will continue to strive for improvement in this area.”
Scottish Labour welfare spokeswoman Jackie Baillie said: “It’s not the first time vulnerable people with health issues have been incorrectly assessed by Atos and it’s clear that the system needs reformed.”
David Barr, 28, threw himself from the Forth Road Bridge after learning the decision to stop his benefit had been upheld.
An Atos assessor had ruled David was fit to work despite being on anti-psychotic sedatives, sleeping tablets and antidepressants. His condition was recorded on a medical assessment as “anxiety and depression”.
But his dad David snr, 57, said he had a host of problems including sleeplessness, memory loss and paranoia – and believes he may have been a schizophrenic.
David was assessed in May. In June, the Department of Work and Pensions told him he was fit to work – and his employment and support allowance was being withdrawn.
In an appeal letter, David wrote: “I disagree with your decision that I am fit for work. I have serious mental health problems that prevent me from doing everyday tasks which means I cannot work at this moment in time.
“I did try and explain this to the medical examiner.”
He was informed on July 17 of the DWP’s final say – they backed the Atos recommendation.
On the evening of Friday, August 23, he got a bus to the bridge, walked to the middle and jumped. He was recovered from the water but died in hospital that night.
David snr, of Leven, Fife, said: “He needed 15 points to ‘pass’ the test and get his benefits but he only got six. I know the difficulties he had – he should have got 106 points.
“The assessment is ridiculous. They said David was fit for work but, in fact, he was fit for hospital.
“I’m in no doubt this matter was the final straw. I would say they are 90 per cent to blame for him taking his life. He’d just had enough.
“I wish we could have got him checked out, even sectioned if necessary, and placed in a hospital where he could have received proper assessment and care.”
“I just hope something can be done so no one else has to go through this.
“We are devastated by our son’s death. David’s mum is in hospital and hasn’t eaten since David died. She is completely broken by this.”
David jnr worked cleaning buses for three years until 2011. His dad says his son could not cope with the routine of holding down a job.
He said his son was placed on strong medication last year but said his mental health had worsened.
David snr added: “He would claim people were trying to poison him but it was all in his head. He thought the police were following him.”
David’s assessment summary states: “Mr Barr has a mental health problem. He takes triple medication...He reports self harm in the past.
“He reports he attempted an overdose six weeks ago but he would not say what he took. He reports he has had no thoughts of suicide since.
“The evidence overall suggests that he is not at substantial risk.”
David snr is in the process of complaining to the DWP.
The DWP and Atos sent their sympathies to David’s family. A DWP spokeswoman said: “Through a series of independent reviews and by working with medical experts and charities, we have considerably improved the work capability assessment process since 2010.”
An Atos spokeswoman said: “We do everything we can to minimise people’s anxiety during the work capability assessment process and will continue to strive for improvement in this area.”
Scottish Labour welfare spokeswoman Jackie Baillie said: “It’s not the first time vulnerable people with health issues have been incorrectly assessed by Atos and it’s clear that the system needs reformed.”
DAILY RECORD
