Pensioner who killed himself after begging for help over benefit cuts

[happyroo_bunji]

Warning disturbing details in link

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/the-tragic-tale-of-the-pensioner-who-killed-himself-a...

Malcolm Burge, 66, faced a bill of £800 because of a payments mix-up by Newham Council. With a bank balance of only £50, he took the only way out he could see

When will this happen in Australia, if it hasn't already?

[nevynreally]

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@happyroo_bunji wrote:

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@paintsew007 wrote:

I did not see any disturbing details.

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One time I posted a video of TAC type ads but from England, and got throughly blasted for not giving a warning in my OP.

Btw, you don't think a man pouring petrol on himself and then setting himself on fire is not disturbing?  The fact that only a small group of teenagers rushed to his aid yet there were many cars in the area and none of them stopped to help isn't disturbing?

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Frankly, if it wasn't Abbott they don't even view it.

[cherry*135]

Rubbish.. if there is a warning about a thread/photo/video... then posters make the choice not to view it on that advice.

Is this thread about Abbott? No it is not.. why bring him into it? Plenty of political threads on that person.

[kopenhagen5]

Sooooo sad. 

I can only hope the tragedy will humble and teach those in relevant postitions to listen to what is being said.

If someone had taken Malcolm Burge's letters seriously, no doubt, the Gentleman would be alive today.

I think we lost a beautiful person.

[mc_remington]

Hello, everyone. This discussion is getting a little heated and off-topic. Could we please remain on topic and communicate with a more civil tone. Thanks!

[happyroo_bunji]

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@kopenhagen5 wrote:

Sooooo sad. 

I can only hope the tragedy will humble and teach those in relevant postitions to listen to what is being said.

If someone had taken Malcolm Burge's letters seriously, no doubt, the Gentleman would be alive today.

I think we lost a beautiful person.

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lovely post kopenhagen.

This incident has disturbed me.  I think because I know what its like to feel there is no hope.  I'm disturbed because he asked for help and was ignored.  I'm also saddend to read that his extended family knew nothing about his plight until it was too late.  I'm angry that a mistake made by the council, and their stupidity caused the death of a man.

Here is another link (no disturbing details):

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/man-killed-himself-after-benefit-changes-left-him-owi...

[softail-joanie]

Pensioner who killed himself after begging for help over benefit cuts

I thought it said "prisoner" Not sure what a pensioner is but was really relating to this thinking it said prisoner

[jean2579]

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@softail-joanie wrote:

Pensioner who killed himself after begging for help over benefit cuts

I thought it said "prisoner" Not sure what a pensioner is but was really relating to this thinking it said prisoner

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Joanie, in our system and that of a lot of European countries and I think Canada, a pensioner is a person who has reached an age of in Australia, 65 plus and who does not have sufficient funds to support themselves is allocated a sum sufficient to cover their basic living expenses plus assistance with travel costs, and in some cases with rental assistance.

In Australia this is approx $644 per fortnight maximum payment (if you part part of a couple, more if you are single) plus assistance with certain travel, medical and pharmaceutical expenses.

For example, we are on a pension and my Husband is due to have a hip replacement in a public hospital. Apart from a small fee for the surgeon, there will be no hospital or associated costs.

There is certainly no way that we could ever get him this relief without our Medicare system.

I hope this helps to clarify it.

[2106greencat]

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@nevynreally wrote:

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@icyfroth wrote:

Looks like England is going back to Dickensian conditions,

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Looks like the sob stories are being dragged out for support. Pathetic.

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Maybe you have a room you could offer to the homeless ? Or a job to the long term unemployed ?

No ?...........

That's what I thought.

How do people like you become so de-humanised that they can not show empathy for those who are truly suffering....

or is that you are are sitting so high on your (self appointed)  pedistool that you don't (want to) believe there are people starving and struggling in the world (and in your own country) through no fault of their own ?

Not that you will care, but I feel sorry for you, your lack of humanity is sad and I can't imagine living life with such a hard and unfeeling heart.

[bella_again]

Heartbreaking that someone felt so desperate they ended their lives 😞  I think we as the public need to be aware of what is happening in this day and age.  It's so easy to live our lives without even having a concept of the level of human suffering out there.  the only way to change policies and to make the public aware is through the media.  Other wise we would all continue our lives with our rose coloured glasses on with little concept of what our fellow human beings endure.

Such a sad sad story.