The scene in Cheddar Gorge, Somerset, UK. 5th Feb, 2015. Where Mr. Malcolm Burge, 66, committed suicide by setting fire to his car, Mr. Burge who lived in a lodge at the City of London cemetery, began claiming benefits in 1992, when he became a carer to his father. He was forced to leave his job and was entitled to housing benefit, council tax benefit & a state & work pension. Government changes to welfare in January 2013 meant his weekly housing benefits, paid by Newham Council, should have been Credit: Timothy Large/Alamy Live News
Malcolm Burge, 66, who lived in a lodge at the City of London cemetery, began claiming benefits in 1992, when he became a carer to his father. He was forced to leave his job as a gardener at the cemetery and was entitled to housing benefit, council tax benefit and a state and work pension. Government changes to welfare in January 2013 meant Mr Burge’s weekly housing benefits, paid by Newham Council, should have been slashed from £ to £ But this was not implemented due to a ‘backlog’ at the authority and Mr Burge continued to receive the higher amount for a further four-and-a-half months. The pensioner, who did not realise his status had changed, was horrified when the authority issued a demand for the £ overpayment in June 2013. He wrote letters to Newham Council begging for help but officers insisted the amount had to be paid and arranged for a deduction to his weekly benefits. Bridgwater Town Hall heard Mr Burge’s final plea before his death on June 28 last year stated: ‘I cannot remember the last time I had £800. I am not trying to live, I am trying to survive.’
Size: 4000px × 2667px
Location: Cheddar Gorge, Somerset, England, UK GB
Photo credit: © Cheddar - Village, Valley and Gorge. / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
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