A WOMAN with mental health problems and physical disabilities has told how a benefits assessor asked her why she had not killed herself.

Describing her interview for personal independence payments (PIP), disability rights activist Alice Kirby accused the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) of “institutional abuse.”

She strongly criticised the inappropriate and off-hand manner in which she had been asked about suicide.

The assessor showed “no concern or compassion” for her emotional state, she said in an interview for a feature published in the Star yesterday.

Speaking out again yesterday, Ms Kirby said: “Phrased appropriately and sensitively, questions about suicide and asking a person why they haven’t killed themselves could be appropriate in a psychiatric assessment, but it should not be discussed in a benefits assessment.

“In this setting, it’s not safe to ask questions like these because assessors have neither the time or skills to support us, and there’s no consideration of the impact it could have on our mental health.

“The questions were also completely unnecessary, they were barely mentioned in my report and had no impact on my award.”

Outsourced firms Atos and Capita are not given a set of specific questions for PIP assessments, though the DWP insists that such questions must be asked appropriately.

An Atos spokesman admitted: “The specific question is inappropriate and, if asked, would not meet the high standards and training in place which enable the sensitive and appropriate handling of assessments by our professional assessors for those with mental health conditions.”

Ms Kirby, from Sheffield, said that, since tweeting about her experience, she had been shocked at how many people said they had been asked similar questions.

She added: “Some people told me that when they answered by saying they felt suicidal or had attempted suicide, assessors said things such as: ‘That’s understandable.’

“There was someone else who was asked to detail exactly how they would carry out suicide if they were to kill themselves.”

Another was asked why his suicide attempts had failed, Ms Kirby said.

She was originally awarded the higher rate of both parts of PIP, and underwent an early reassessment in November after telling the DWP that her health had deteriorated.

Ms Kirby is awaiting the result of a mandatory reconsideration, but expects to have to go to a tribunal in a bid to get the DWP’s decision overruled.