A grieving mother has pledged to campaign for systemic change after a coroner ruled that serious failings in the UK’s benefits system contributed to the death of her vulnerable son.
Jacqueline Harris, whose 27-year-old son Daniel took his own life after his disability benefits were cut, said she will dedicate herself to fighting for other families facing similar hardship. The coroner concluded this week that Daniel’s death was “linked to distress caused by the abrupt withdrawal of essential support and a lack of adequate mental health safeguarding.”
“I lost my son, but I refuse to let his death be in vain,” Harris told reporters outside the coroner’s court. “I will fight so no other family has to suffer like we did. The system must be held accountable.”
Daniel, who had long-term mental health issues and was previously deemed unfit for work, had his Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) stopped following a controversial reassessment. His family said the process was marked by poor communication, delays, and a lack of empathy.
The coroner’s findings add to a growing body of criticism directed at the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), which has faced repeated accusations of neglecting the needs of vulnerable claimants during eligibility reviews.
In response to the ruling, a DWP spokesperson expressed sympathy to the family and said the department would “carefully consider the coroner’s findings,” adding that reforms to improve the assessment process are already under way.
However, campaigners argue those measures fall short. “This isn’t an isolated case — it’s part of a wider pattern of people being failed by a system meant to protect them,” said Dr. Louise Jennings of the Social Welfare Alliance.
Ms. Harris is now working with legal advocates and charities to push for a public inquiry into benefit-related deaths and more robust safeguards for people with mental health conditions.
As calls for accountability grow louder, Daniel’s story is becoming a rallying cry for reform — and for one mother’s mission to turn tragedy into lasting change.