A retired gardener took his own life after alterations to the benefits system left him owing Newham Council more than £800.
Malcolm Burge had been entitled to housing and council tax benefits after becoming a career for his father. However, changes to the benefits system meant his entitlement had been cut from £89.39 to £44.79 a week.
A backlog at the council meant he continued to receive the higher amount, leaving him owing £809.79 to the authority.
Mr Burge wrote to the council in several occasions about his inability to repay the debt, saying the matter had left him feeling ‘depressed, stressed and suicidal’. After receiving ten letters demanding the return of the overpayment, he later set himself alight in his car.
A spokesperson for Newham Council said: ‘Our thoughts are with the family and friends of Mr Burge following his tragic death. In our submission to the coroner, we already acknowledged delays and deficiencies in our extensive correspondence through letters and phonecalls, with Mr Burge. We are sorry if this contributed to his death in any way.
‘We will await the letter from the coroner, review our ways of working and change how we deliver this service as a result.’
Photo: © Robin Sones
