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A depressed blind man killed himself after he was left penniless because his benefits were slashed, an inquest heard

Desperate Tim Salter struggled to even feed himself when controversial private firm Atos ruled he was fit for work, despite his failing eyesight.

The 53-year-old, who also suffered agoraphobia, was about to be kicked out of his housing association home when he hanged himself in the hall.

A coroner ruled the Government’s decision to axe Tim’s meagre incapacity benefit contributed to his death.

And the former assistant store manager’s sister Linda Cooksey told how his fitness to work test was carried out by a physiotherapist with no ­experience of mental health issues or knowledge of his blindness.

(Image: Jon Fuller Rowell/ Daily Mirror)

The 60-year-old said his family never even knew about his money problems until after his death.

She added: ­“Stopping his ­benefits sent him over the edge. When his small savings ran out he got in trouble with his rent, and his £30 disability allowance a week just wasn’t enough.

"Tim ran out of money. He was a proud man and never let on to anybody. It’s so sad. I want everyone to know what this government is doing to ­vulnerable people on benefits.

“He had a certificate to say he was blind. When we got into his house there was no food, he practically starved in the last weeks.”

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South Staffordshire coroner Andrew Haigh said: “A major factor in his death was that his benefits had been greatly reduced leaving him almost destitute.”

Tim died on September 25.

An eviction letter from South ­Staffordshire Housing ­Association was found in the bin by his family.

He was registered partially-blind in 1994. His eyes were damaged when he tried to kill himself in 1989 after losing his job.

His family has written to David Cameron about his Atos treatment.

The housing association insisted help was available for those ­struggling to pay rent.

And the ­Department for Work and Pensions said Tim had the right to appeal its decision.

Verdict: Suicide.

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