A disabled Scots dad who took his own life just hours after having his benefits suspended by the DWP left a heartbreaking note for his loved ones.
Maxwell Quinton tragically passed away in Glenrothes, Fife, on April 13 after receiving a letter telling him his Personal Independence Payment was being suspended.
The 54-year-old, who suffered from a number of health issues leaving him unable to work, reached crisis point after the latest benefits setback following a long mental health battle.
His heartbroken wife Andrina and son Harry, 19, discovered a note he had left behind asking them to help grant his last wish.
The granddad-of-one urged them to tell the Department of Work and Pensions what ‘they are doing to people like me’.
The note, which was given to the Daily Record by his ‘Big Maxi’s’ family, read: “Nina, thanks for marrying me and giving me a loving son. Keep Harry on the straight and narrow.
“Let Harry know he is the best thing that ever happened to me. Love you and Harry.
“Keep things right. Help yourself to anything you need out my house. Love you always. Maxi and dad.
“P.S Make a point in telling the benefit system what they are doing to people like me. Go to the papers to stop any people like me doing the same thing.”
Andrina, 54, who lived in a separate property from her husband, desperately tried to talk Maxwell round after he called her that fateful night.
She promised to help him sort out the benefits issue which was brought about after the ‘forgetful’ dad failed to send a bank statement to the DWP in time.
But the family’s world was shattered after Maxwell passed away a short time later - just hours after the suspension letter landed on his doormat.
Step-daughter Denise Lomas recalled how she ‘lost all the strength in her legs’ after discovering her beloved dad had suddenly passed away.
She said: “I’ll never forget that night. My blood didn’t run cold, it drained and I lost all strength in my legs. I lay in a corner crying for hours. It was horrendous.
“I do feel that the DWP needs to find a system that works. For two years, dad was waiting on his first appeal which is just ridiculous.
“He had two years of worry and they didn’t stop. They just kept pushing and pushing.
“They’d take him off PIP, then put him back on, then take him off again and then put him back on at a lower rate.
“It’s absolutely disgraceful.I did offer to help with his paperwork. I just wish I had gone and done it there and then instead of asking him to wait a few days. It might have just saved his life.”
Paying tribute to her father, the 32-year-old added: “Dad was everything to us - the centre of the family. He thrived as a family man. We had so many laughs with him.
“He loved Christmas as that was family time. If we were ever in trouble, dad always found a way around things. If we were all happy, so was he.”
A DWP spokesperson said: “This is a tragic case, and our sincere condolences are with Mr Quinton’s family.”
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