Man took his own life as DWP started to pay back seven years of benefits arrears totalling £37,000

manchestereveningnews.co.uk:

A vulnerable man took his own life after becoming 'paranoid' when the Department of Work and Pensions started to pay back seven years worth of benefits arrears.

The DWP owed more than £37,000 to Richard Brookes at the time of his death after an 'error'. Mr Brookes, who had a diagnosis of possible paranoid schizophrenia and was on anti-psychotic medication, recieved an initial repayment of £5,000 direct to his bank account on December 8 last year, but his sister told an inquest into his death he grew 'paranoid about the source of the money'.

A coroner said text messages he sent to his sister in the days leading up to his passing indicated 'he didn't know where the money was coming from'.

Mr Brookes, who was known to family and friends as Rick, was found dead near train tracks in the Stockport area just over a month after the first arrears repayment was made. READ MORE: 'We will do everything we can': Police issue direct appeal to mum after tragic discovery of baby in Salford Coroner Anna Morris KC, who recorded a conclusion of suicide after the inquest at Stockport Coroners' Court earlier this month, has now written to the DWP voicing urgent concerns over benefits payments to vulnerable recipients.