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The grieving girlfriend of a dad-to-be who killed himself claims the Government’s online benefit forms “tipped him over the edge”.

Mark William Jacka, 26, from Aberystwyth, took his own life in February after repeatedly failing to correctly complete the online forms in order to receive Jobseeker's Allowance.

Partner Erin Weston, 22, who is expecting his son in July said: “The forms were the final straw, he just couldn’t cope.”

'Nobody cared'

She said Mark was dyslexic and claimed not enough was done to enough to help.

She said: “He needed someone to put their arm round him for five minutes and just help him with those forms but it seemed like nobody cared.

“I blame the current system and think the bureaucracy he had to go through when he was in a crisis had a big part to play in his death – it tipped him over the edge.”

'Very sad circumstances'

This week a coroner suggested the forms may have added to Mr Jacka’s stress and worries.

Recording a verdict of suicide Ceredigion coroner Peter Brunton said: “He was not well but was stressed about completing forms promptly.

“He had no money and had to borrow from his girlfriend.

“He was only 26 years old and his girlfriend was expecting his child.

“These are very sad circumstances and I can only offer my profound sympathy to his family.”

'He really struggled'

Erin said painter and decorator Mark was between jobs and needed to sign on from February to April when he had more work lined up.

She said: “Mark had never signed on before, this was his first time last February, and he had work coming in April so he thought it would just be a temporary thing.

“The problem is he was dyslexic so he really struggled with forms.

“But they just sat him at a computer in order to begin his claim online but he really struggled.

'He did not need any more stress'

“The following day he was at hospital with me because I was ill with my pregnancy and missed a call from them informing him he had filled the forms out incorrectly and he would have to start all over again the following Monday.

“This really stressed him out and with a baby coming he said he was worried he would be a rubbish dad.

“He had lots of stuff going on in his life at that time and he really did not need any more stress.”

The last time Erin saw Mark was on Saturday, February 8, when she lent him some money to pay some bills.

Increasingly desperate

Mark returned to the job centre in Aberystwyth the following Monday and began the online application process from scratch.

The centre was an hour’s bus ride from his house in Tregaron and Erin revealed how Mark was becoming increasingly desperate because he was worried he might not even have the bus fare to get there again so had decided to also apply for a crisis loan.

SEE ALSO: Suicide rates among men have soared to their highest rate since 1981

“He went in on the Monday and applied online again and explained to the Jobcentre staff he needed a crisis loan as he had no money,” said Erin.

“Mark was really stressed about this and phoned me afterwards.

'Easier if he slashed his wrists'

“He said if it he could not work out the benefits system then how would he ever be a good dad?

“He told me he thought it’d be easier if he just slashed his wrists because that way they couldn’t ignore him anymore - that way they would have to give him disability benefits or something.

“I thought he was just being silly and did not believe him but I think the stress of dealing with the way the benefits system is set-up now was the final straw for him.

“That was the last time I ever spoke to him.

“I wish I had gone with him, I wish I had pushed harder to go with him and help him fill out those forms.

“But his little boy is due in July and I am calling Harley William Jacka in his honour.”

Visited DWP

Mark was found dead in his home in Tregaron, near Aberystwyth, by a police officers after Erin raised the alarm when she could no longer contact him after he told her he felt like killing himself.

The inquest in Aberystwyth heard that officers from Dyfed-Powys Police and Mr Jacka’s landlord had to remove a window to gain entry to the property and found Mr Jacka inside on February 10 this year.

The DWP confirmed that Mr Jacka had first filled out an online form for Jobseeker's Allowance.

When they tried to ask him to come in and see them, they struggled to get hold of him.

Finally he visited them for advice on the day before he killed himself.

Benefit advance

They stressed that despite claims Mr Jacka had money worries, on that day they also gave him a financial advance to tide him over.

A DWP spokesman added: “Suicide is a sensitive and complex issue and our sympathies are with Mr Jacka’s family.

“Mr Jacka came into the Jobcentre and was given help to complete his application for benefits.

“The claim was approved and he also received a benefit advance.”