Woman told of own death in letter as benefits stopped

Barbara Skedd was in "absolute horror" when she opened a letter addressed to her executors offering them condolences on her death.

The 74-year-old received a letter to her Ibstock home, in Leicestershire, from North West Leicestershire District Council in May to update its council tax records following the family's "recent bereavement".

Due to her reported "death", Skedd's benefits stopped, which she said left her "broken" as she was unable to buy food or go out.

The council said the letter was standard procedure after being informed by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) of a person's death. The DWP has apologised for the "administrative error" and said payments had now been reinstated.

Skedd said she was in tears after the initial shock of reading that she had died in the council letter, dated 21 May.

She said anger then followed when she discovered all her benefit money, including her Personal Independence Payment (PIP), Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit (IIDB), pension and pension credit - had been frozen.

"Everything stopped dead," she told the BBC.

"I've not had money to buy food, no money to put petrol in my car. I can't do anything or go anywhere.

"I go out once a week to my bingo, I've not even been able to do that."

Skedd said the mix-up has taken its toll, adding: "Now, I'm just broken.

"It's been very stressful.

"I don't think I've ever been this low in my life before. I've absolutely hit rock bottom."

However, she was grateful to her "wonderful" family and friends, who she said had "bailed me out".

"But that money's all got to be paid back," she said.

"I can't expect people to give me money and not expect to pay it back."

Skedd said since receiving the letter the council had not offered her an explanation, only that it received information about her death from the DWP.

She contacted the government department several times to correct the issue and was told an officer would visit her to confirm she was alive, she added.

"That horrified me to be honest," she said.

"I said, 'I'm talking to you. What more proof do you need?'"

Skedd said since the visit she has had "no explanation, no apologies, nothing" from the DWP.

"Just tell me why it all happened," she said.

"How did they get the information that I'd passed away?

"Nobody's ever asked for a death certificate, which of course there isn't one anyway.

"It's not a lot to ask for."

Her friend Catherine Lockwood, 72, from Syston, added: "She's a broken woman.

"I've never known Barbara to be so upset and crying like she is doing and not eating.

"I just don't get what the authorities have done."

Skedd finally received her monthly PIP and her IIDB this week - both payments have been almost two weeks overdue.

She has now been told her monthly pension credit will arrive on Monday - nine weeks since her last payment, but is still waiting for her pension.

North West Leicestershire District Council said: "We are aware of an instance where our team has been incorrectly informed of the death of a resident by the Department for Work and Pensions.

"This notification triggers a process for us, which includes sending a letter of condolence and stopping benefit payments.

"We believe this is an isolated instance and have contacted the customer to apologise for the distress caused, and to offer further support.

"We've reinstated all payments that we control and have put a hold on any council tax demands for the time being, while the issue is resolved with DWP."

A DWP spokesperson said an officer contacted Skedd on Wednesday, adding: "We have spoken with Mrs. Skedd and are sorry for the distress caused to her following an administrative error.

"We have been working urgently to resolve this matter and have now reinstated all of her payments, including arrears.

"We are continuing with our investigations on how such an error could have occurred."

Skedd has highlighted the situation to the office of Amanda Hack, the Labour MP for North West Leicestershire, which said it was looking into what happened.

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