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Petition For DWP To Release Figures On 'Benefits Deaths' Gains Over 133,000 Supporters

Petition For Government To Release 'Benefits Deaths' Figures Reaches 133,000 Signatures
Sophie Brown
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London, UNITED KINGDOM: Former Conservative Party leader Ian Duncan Smith (L) attends the funeral of ex-British Cabinet Minister John Profumo at St. Paul's Church in Knightsbridge, in London, 20 March 2006. John Profumo, the British war minister caught in a sex and spy tangle at the height of the Cold War died aged 91, reviving old memories of a scandal that shook the establishment to the core and helped bring down the government. The scandal had all the players and ingredients of a period drama, with a ravishing young call girl, a dapper cabinet minister, a Russian agent, tales of orgies, and even gunshots fired into the night by a jealous lover. His downfall began in July 1961, when as a 48-year-old secretary of state for war in Prime Minister Harold Macmillan's government, Profumo fell for Christine Keeler, a 19-year-old prostitute. AFP PHOTO/BEN STANSALL (Photo credit should read BEN STANSALL/AFP/Getty Images)
AFP via Getty Images

The petition calling for the Government to release statistics showing how many people have died within six weeks of having their benefits stopped has gained over 115,000 supporters in less than a week, bringing the total to over 133,000.

The Change.org petition was launched a week after the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) appealed a decision to release the sensitive statistics.

Following a freedom of information request, the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO), an independent authority set up to uphold public information rights, agreed that there was no reason not to publish the figures.

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The ICO said: "Given the passage of time and level of interest in the information it is difficult to understand how the DWP could reasonably withhold the requested information."

The DWP is refusing to release the figures, despite the Information Commissioner's reasoning. A spokesperson told The Huffington Post UK: "We have lodged an appeal against the Information Commissioner’s decision to the tribunal.”

They also warned it was irresponsible to suggest a causal link between the death of an individual and their benefit claim, and that mortality rates among people with serious health conditions are likely to be higher than those among the general population.

The DWP rejected our request for further comment, stating that nothing has changed and they're still appealing the decision.

If you've been affected by the issues in this article, please call the Samaritans on 08457 90 90 90.

7 Worthy Petitions
To give Jimmy Thoranka the chance to start a new life and realise his huge potential as a sprinting star(01 of07)
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"Jimmy Thoronka isn't your everyday 20 year old, he is one of Africa's most talented young sprinters with an incredibly bright future. He competed in last year's Commonwealth Games in Glasgow for Sierra Leone.While he was in the UK, Jimmy got the devastating news that his family had been killed by Ebola. He had already lost his birth family in Civil War, and last year lost his uncle, mother and four siblings to the disease.After the devastating loss of his family, Jimmy has been living homeless, here on the streets of London.Over the weekend, Jimmy was picked up by the police for having an expired visa and may be deported."
To stop the Chancellor of the Exchequer taxing periods. Period.(02 of07)
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"David Cameron has accepted that removing sanitary tax will be "very difficult to do but I'll have to go away and have a look and come back to you”. Well Mr Cameron, it’s time for a response. We need to know why the Government taxes sanitary products on luxurious, “non-essential” grounds, but not crocodile steaks, edible sugar flowers or helicopters. If you value the functioning of those who menstruate at least as much as you enjoy your flying crocodile Fridays then sign our petition and join our campaign. Help to put an end to the marginalisation of issues traditionally associated with women." (credit:Digital Vision. via Getty Images)
To question HSBC bosses & pursue prosecutions of those involved in tax evasion(03 of07)
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"I am fed up with hearing how wealthy people and corporations are effectively being let off from their tax responsibilities in the UK when the vast majority of people work hard and pay their taxes. Please sign my petition and let's put an end to one rule for banks and the rich, and another for us." (credit:Caroline Purser via Getty Images)
To get David Cameron to take part in the leaders TV debates(04 of07)
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"David Cameron has not yet agreed to take part in the leaders TV debates ahead of the general election - many reports suggest he doesn't want to take part at all. Let us come together to put pressure on our PM to get involved and show him that #WeWantMore." (credit:Gareth Fuller/PA Archive)
To put our homes before profit(05 of07)
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"Our West Hendon are a group of concerned residents on the West Hendon Estate that believe that the developments taking place benefit private developers at the expense of our community. We fear the development is going to force many people from our community out of the estate and possibly out of London. We are therefore making the following demands of Barnet Council, Barnet Homes, Barratt and Metropolitan Housing Association..." (credit:allinvisuality via Getty Images)
To create a legal exclusionary zone outside of abortion clinics(06 of07)
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"I was shocked that it is legal for people to protest and have recording equipment so close to the entrance of these clinics. Abortion is not illegal in the UK and nor should it be. Women should be able to visit these clinics without fear, harassment or intimidation. Please sign this petition calling on all the parties to commit to changing the law to set exclusion zones to stop protesting outside abortion clinics."
To get the Premier League to pay ALL of its staff a Living Wage(07 of07)
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"The Premier League just secured a record breaking £5.14 BILLION by selling the TV rights to their matches. However, these staggeringly wealthy football clubs still pay some of their employees less than the minimum amount needed to cover the cost of living in the UK, which is currently £9.15 per hour in London and £7.85 outside. It would take these staff 13 years to earn as much as some top players earn in a week!" (credit:Nigel French/EMPICS Sport)
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