Coroner raises concerns over vulnerable Derbyshire woman’s suicide following botched benefits cut
A coroner has raised concerns over the suicide of a vulnerable Derbyshire woman after her benefits were cut in a botched assessment.
Senior coroner Alison Mutch has written to the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (DWP) demanding action following the death of Tamara Logan, 28.
An inquest into her death heard Ms Logan, from Glossop, took her own life in May 2025 after being informed by letter that her Personal Independence Payment (PIP) would be stopped.
Raising her concerns in a report to prevent future deaths, coroner Ms Mutch noted Tamara had a history of self-harm and suicidal ideation with DWP paperwork flagging her vulnerabilities, however a “standard letter” was sent with no regard for the risks.
The coroner also questioned the benefits review itself, noting “the assessment of (Tamara’s) entitlement to benefits had been incorrectly determined despite it having been checked before the final decision was made.”
She added: “The purpose of the check was to avoid these errors being made and it was unclear why it had not picked up the incorrect approach.”
Giving the background to Tamara’s death, the coroner wrote: “The decision to remove the enhanced payment has been accepted as an incorrect determination. The method used for communication of the decision was also not appropriate given her known vulnerabilities."
Determining a risk that future deaths could occur unless action was taken, the coroner has given the Secretary of State until March 19 to respond, setting out details of action taken or proposed to be taken with a timetable.