An elderly woman who had her pensions stripped in error killed herself after running out of money. Joy Worrall, 81, was too proud to tell her family she was having financial problems and took her own life as she had always threatened to do if she had major health or money worries.
Ben Worrall told an inquest that his mother had only £5 in her account when she died, having apparently been forced to spend all of her £5,000 savings. Ben told the Ruthin inquest that the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) were ‘guilty of a failure of duty of care’.
DWP has apologised for the error. But Delyn MP David Hanson is seeking further clarification and an assurance that the procedures have been tightened to prevent a recurrence.
In a statement read at the hearing Mr Worrall, of Rhosesmor, near Holywell, said she was fit and well but kept things to herself if anything bothered her. He spoke to his mother, who lived nearby in Church Terrace, Rhesycae, three or four times a week and last contacted her on November 19 last year.
Two days later, after a friend got in touch to ask where Joy was, he went to her cottage and raised the alarm when he could not find her. Her car was also missing. A police search was launched and a helicopter was called. But the following morning members of the North East Wales Search and Rescue team found Joy’s body at the foot of a 40-foot face at Rhes-y-cae quarry.
Mr Worrall told the inquest his mum had said she would ‘throw herself off the quarry’ if she was ever in poor health or financial difficulties.
Mr Worrall said her death was a shock as there were so many unanswered questions, but when he investigated his mother’s affairs and contacted the DWP he realised what had happened. Joy, a divorcee, who had been receiving a state pension and pension credits told the Department in 2014 that she had received a recent inheritance.
Nothing changed, but in July, 2017, her case was re-assessed and ‘action was taken to suspend her pension credit. However, instead of only freezing her credits, her entire pension was stopped, with the result that she had no income whatsoever.
In a letter of explanation to Mr Worrall, Suzanne Mitchelson, the DWP’s complaints resolution manager, said the two pensions should have been ‘decombined’ and her basic pension continued.
She wrote: ‘I am sorry to say that due to an administrative error this did not happen.’ Recording a conclusion of suicide, John Gittins, coroner for North Wales East and Central, said it was important that he heard the background, but added: ‘It would be inappropriate for me to comment further.’
After the hearing Mr Worrall said: ‘My mother was a proud woman who was simply left without any capital.’ He said he had raised the issue with David Hanson to try to ensure that no-one else found themselves in the same position. He added: ‘I feel we have been let down by the DWP who have failed in their duty of care.
It’s a disgrace how this can happen in modern society and what concerns me is that this could happen to someone else.’ A DWP spokesperson said: ‘Our thoughts are with the family and friends of Mrs Worrall. We apologise unreservedly to Mrs Worrall’s family for the error that led to her pension payments being stopped and pledge to learn the lessons.’
Need support?
Contact the Samaritans For emotional support you can call the Samaritans 24-hour helpline on 116 123, email jo@samaritans.org, visit a Samaritans branch in person or go to the Samaritans website.
