A chronically ill father who hanged himself was found dead by his daughter after he was ruled fit to work - despite doctors concluding he was too ill to do his job.

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) assessors had stopped Kevin Dooley's employment support allowance after a consultation.

His daughter Leanne found out that her father, who was a painter and decorator prior to suffering breathing problems caused by chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, lost his appeal.

Kevin Dooley was found dead by his daughter Leanne after being ruled fit to work by the DWP

She said: 'Christmas will never be the same for our family. The Department for Work and Pensions should be disgusted with themselves.

'Over the last year Dad's illness got worse, and he got less mobile. Whoever deemed him fit for work is a disgrace.'

The father-of-three was signed off from work five years ago and was living off £70 a week ESA benefits and housing support.

Leanne, 27, said her father wanted to work but was physically unable. She added that he fell into depression following a hearing at Leeds Centre for Health and Disability Assessments, run by outsourcing firm Maximus for the DWP.

She added: 'He needed regular haematology appointments and was on three inhalers, steroids and antibiotics,' said the mum of two.

'But because he could walk to the shop and at times minded his grandkids, they said he could work.'

Following his failed appeal, Leanne said her father became suicidal and became increasingly concerned about becoming homless.

She said: 'He worried he'd be homeless as he had to reapply for housing support. He said he thought taking his life was the only way out.'

Kevin Dooley (left) took his own life just days before Christmas after sending a text which read 'I love you' to his three daughters

Mr Dooley decided to see a doctor, who ruled he was too ill to work.

The family planned to take his case to a tribunal, but on December 17, Leanne along with her twin sisters Paige and Collette, 18, received a goodbye message from their father which said 'I love you'.

She found her father at home and he died three days later. She now plans on telling her father's ordeal at his inquest, and puts the blame solely down to the DWP.

She said: 'He took his life because of what they did to him.'

The Centre for Health and Disability Assessments said: 'We make an assessment of how conditions impact on day-to-day life so DWP can make a decision on an individual's eligibility for benefits.'

The DWP said a Universal Credit advance payment had been made to Mr Dooley on December 8 after the ESA appeal rejection letter on November 29.

Mr Dooley was also appealing the decison to work made on his ESA claim to an independent tribunal.

It said his 'work requirement' had been turned off because he told his work coach he would be challenging the appeal decision.

A DWP spokesperson said: 'Our thoughts are with Mr Dooley's family at this difficult time.'

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