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A man who was wrongly stripped of his benefits hanged himself just days before winning an appeal to get them back, an inquest heard.

Shaun Talbot, 51, who had mental health problems, had been relying on the support of his mother for over a year after he lost his Personal Independence Payment (PIP)

He went missing on September 4 last year, and his body was discovered in woodland near his hometown of Chandler's Ford, Hants, nearly three weeks later on September 22.

However, within this time, a letter arrived at his home informing him he would be paid the year of lost income.

The payments - which range from £22.65 to £145.35 per week - are designed to help with extra costs of a long-term health condition or disability.

(Image: Daily Echo/Solent News)

They were introduced in 2013 to replace the Disability Living Allowance.

However, there have been complaints that under the new regime hundreds of thousands have missed out.

Mr Talbot, who had been suffering with mental health problems for a number of years, had his condition assessed in 2017 and had his benefits removed, a decision that he appealed against.

At an inquest into his death at Winchester Coroner's Court, Hants, his adopted mother Neta Talbot said she felt the situation "may have been different" had he known the outcome of the appeal sooner.

But the process lasted a year, the hearing was told.

A post-mortem examination also found potentially fatal levels of stimulant drug amphetamine in the body of Mr Talbot, who was described as a "kind, caring and simply loving man".

(Image: Family/Solent News)

The inquest heard his mental health problems were thought to have been contributed to by the amphetamine use, and he had been struggling to cope with having been adopted as a baby.

In a statement, his mother said: "It all changed when they stopped his benefits.

"It had already taken a year and he had no idea when the decision would be made.

"This certainly caused his depression to drastically worsen as he hated having to look to me for any money.

"We were a great support for each other and I am lost without him."

On the day he went missing, Mr Talbot had been with friend Dennis Hartley in The Cricketers Arms pub in Eastleigh. Mr Hartley said in a police statement: "He was saying 'I just feel topping myself'."

Recording a conclusion of suicide, coroner Grahame Short said he believed the stop in benefits did contribute to Mr Talbot's mental state prior to his death, along with his amphetamine use.

He added that he could not be sure when Mr Talbot killed himself, but believed it was more likely to be on September 4, after leaving The Cricketers Arms.

A DWP spokesperson said: “Our thoughts are with Mr Talbot’s family.

“Since PIP was introduced there have been 3.7 million decisions made and of these only 5% have been overturned at appeal."

If you would like confidential support on an emotional issue, call Samaritans on 116 123 at any time.