Bedroom Tax Blamed For Woman's Suicide

[super jumbe]

A woman who committed suicide left a note blaming the Government's so-called bedroom tax for her death.

Stephanie Bottrill killed herself earlier this month, and wrote in her final letter: "I don't [blame] anyone for me death expect [sic] the government."

Her son Steven, 27, said she was struggling to cope after being told to pay ?20-a-week extra for two under-occupied bedrooms at her home in Solihull.

He told the Sunday People: "I couldn't believe it. She said not to blame ourselves, it was the Government and what they were doing that caused her to do it.

"She was fine before this bedroom tax. It was dreamt up in London, by people living in offices and big houses. They have no idea the effect it has on people like my mum."

Ms Bottrill died 10 days ago at the age of 53.

In the days running up to her death she told neighbours: "I can't afford to live any more."

Solihull Council Labour group leader David Jamieson, who knows the family, said: "I'm absolutely appalled this poor lady has taken her own life because she was worried how she would pay the bedroom tax.

"I hope the Government will sit up and take notice and reconsider this policy."

The bedroom tax means people of a working age in social housing who have a spare bedroom will find housing benefit claims reduced by ?40 to ?80 a month.

Ms Bottrill had lived in her ?320-a-month home for 18 years as she raised her son and daughter, but could not cope with the extra ?80 she had to find every month.

http://uk.news.yahoo.com/bedroom-tax-woman-commits-suicide-235309248.html

[Snowy79]

It's easy to blame the beroom tax but she must have had issues or everyone in the same position would do the same. She had two spare rooms. Why didn't she take in a lodger ? If she did the first ?20 that she charges for the room goes straight to her and does not affect her benefits. Why didn't her family help her out or were they in the same position ? Has she wasted her life and left school with no qualifications or have medical conditions that meant she couldn't earn a living ?

You're always going to get one or two that blame the system but it won't make the same headlines if all the truths were published.

[tshirtman]

It's easy to blame the beroom tax but she must have had issues or everyone in the same position would do the same. She had two spare rooms. Why didn't she take in a lodger ? If she did the first ?20 that she charges for the room goes straight to her and does not affect her benefits. Why didn't her family help her out or were they in the same position ? Has she wasted her life and left school with no qualifications or have medical conditions that meant she couldn't earn a living ?

You're always going to get one or two that blame the system but it won't make the same headlines if all the truths were published.

And here speaks the font of all knowledge on mental health issues,

We all know theres loads of people out there killing themselves just to make a point

This shows the true compassion of a tory voter

[Snowy79]

I've never voted Tory in my life and as for the mental health issues if she never had any then why did she commit suicide ? Mental health issues come in various forms not just in those that think they're Napoleon. She could have been depressed etc that's why I asked questions as opposed to saying "this is why she killed herself" If the bedroom tax kills then everyone who had to pay it and not be able to would die. Have a good read at what I wrote before jumping in.

[Meat-Head]

Only thing with lodger. Is they crap in your bog and hog your dk connection

[gc1966]

I've never voted Tory in my life and as for the mental health issues if she never had any then why did she commit suicide ? Mental health issues come in various forms not just in those that think they're Napoleon. She could have been depressed etc that's why I asked questions as opposed to saying "this is why she killed herself" If the bedroom tax kills then everyone who had to pay it and not be able to would die. Have a good read at what I wrote before jumping in.

had a good read and have compressed both into one,ts never said you had voted tory,just the compassion of one.not all people who have mental health issues commit suicide otherwise the dignitas clinics would be full to busting with napoleons (your derogatory name for vulnerable people not mine) although it could be argued that depression is a form of mental issue. if the note she left contained what it states in the mail, a tory rag one step down from the scum,sorry I meant sun then her reasons are clearly stated.feel free to educate me if I missed the whole truth

[GastonJ]

gct1966 and tshirtman - Couldn't have said it better myself, if as above, the extra burden pushed her over the edge then that's the reason. Depression is a mental illness however you look at it, it affects your thought in a strange way. Thing about depression is you don't really know you have it until someone points it out, which isn't so easy to come to terms with. Once you know, and come to terms with it, you can do something about it. However everyone deals with such things in their own way and drugs aren't always the answer. I feel sorry for the woman and her family, after living in the same house for 18 years and the coalition having such a rethink without a real thought for the impact on such vunerable people just shows you what a bunch of self righteous basseds the Liberals and Tory's are. The government will take no notice and continue on the path they are on.

[masur123]

If the story is read, it says she blames the government, dont think it says the bedroom tax. Her son appears to have suggested this.

[GastonJ]

I doubt she was in the right frame of mind to write a full critique of the governments welfare reforms and policies, even if she had wanted to. Her neighbours also suggest the same issue was the cause, since she also spoke to them about it. Even so she blamed the government for the situation that she was in, whether in her own mind, or reality doesn't make a great deal of difference to someone who is finally pushed over the edge. However I'm sure some MP somewhere will be calculating that they've saved ?320 a month, and will be wondering how much more will be saved by their legislation in the coming months. Bunch of *******

[bobwill]

The problem is the left wing papers have been telling a lot of lies about the loss of this benefit
some people think even if they pay the rent themselves (not on benefits) that they will be taxed on spare bedrooms
And it is not a bedroom tax its a loss of benefits and the loony left will be very disappointed
when Red Ed do not put the benefit back on when he get back in power

[Snowy79]

My thoughts go to the driver of the lorry that she jumped in front of. The guy was just doing his job and now has to live with the knowledge that he's killed a woman through no fault of his own.

[ajax2061]

aye if your gonna kill yourself don't make anyone else part of it, your hurting too many others already

[rds60h]

aye if your gonna kill yourself don't make anyone else part of it, your hurting too many others already

Do you really think that if depression and stress have taken you to such a level that you want to die, you will have the clarity of mind to plan a suicide that will not involve others or have adverse effects on others ?
The way people have turned on anyone claiming benefits is abhorrent and has led to many honest people who have fallen on hard times to be labelled as scroungers and scum. This in many cases is after working for many years and paying their tax and national insurance (it should be remembered that NI is just like ordinary insurance, you pay your premium and hope that you don't have to claim !) to be then humiliated and branded liars by ATOS "professionals" or hounded because they have been unable to find new employment. All this engenders stress and depression, I know I have been there in fact I am still there !! depressed because others believe I am like those portrayed in the media, scamming the system, thieving and robbing and having no morals, depressed because you have to fight for every penny you receive, depressed because if you have the temerity to question your assessment you are placed on an even lower "assessment rate", depressed because you cannot turn the heating up, depressed because you have to hunt down all the "reduced" bargains at the supermarket, depressed because you cannot afford to socialise, depressed because you are not the one bringing home "the bacon", depressed because you feel your integrity has been questioned, depressed because you have just heard another A**hole complain about the benefit scroungers, depressed because a system that you believed in and paid into has failed you, depressed because yet another politician has began talking out of their backside and come up with another air-brained scheme to hit the poorest, depressed because you can't buy your kids a birthday present, depressed because your diet is the cheapest monotonous same meals yet again, depressed because you can't see a light at the end of the tunnel, depressed because you would never let that happen to you !!!

[Kalipo]

This is sick.. but you cant blame the conservatives for this.. I mean killing yourself for ?20?? .. dont the make sense..

But then again, i wouldnt trust the coalition to walk my dog.. I dont have a dog neither.... still waiting for labour to come back with it from last time round ..

[GastonJ]

This is sick.. but you cant blame the conservatives for this.. I mean killing yourself for ?20?? .. dont the make sense..

But then again, i wouldnt trust the coalition to walk my dog.. I dont have a dog neither.... still waiting for labour to come back with it from last time round ..

I did say earlier when people are stressed and depressed sense doesn't really come into it in any way shape or form. She was obviously in such a frame of mind as ?20 did mean a lot to her. When you don't have ?20, ?20 is a lot of money. It's not what I call a lot of money, but it's the value that person, who obviously didn't have it, puts on it. You have to look at these things from both sides.