- Jacqueline Harris, 53, was told she was fit to return to work
- Widow was partially sighted and only able to walk with the aid of sticks
- Christine Norman claims benefits ruling drove her sister to kill herself
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Despite being in almost constant agony, Jacqueline Harris, 53, was told she was fit for work following a Government health assessment.
Ms Harris's sister claims that the ruling drove the former nurse, from Kingswood, Bristol, to take her own life.
Tragic: Half-blind Jacqueline Harris, who
suffered crippling back pain, killed herself after her disability
benefits were stopped, it has been claimed
Widow Ms Harris was only able to walk with the aid of sticks after she suffered slipped discs in her back and neck.
She was also unable to use one wrist properly after she was later attacked by a dog.
Her sister Christine Norman, 57, says arthritic Ms Harris was asked just one question in the lightning-speed assessment, carried out by private firm Atos Healthcare.
Mrs Norman said: 'They asked her one question - "Did you get here by bus?".
'Jacqueline replied with one fateful word - "yes".
'She hadn't even had the chance to take her coat off.
'Jacqueline said couldn't do it anymore and that no-one was listening to her and no-one cared. She told me she couldn't work and that nobody believed her.
'She just wanted her benefit so she could have avoided the pressure of work - it wasn't a massive amount of money.'
Ms Harris suffered from arthritis in her neck and back and her pain worsened after an unsuccessful operation on her neck last year.
She was left in agony every time one of her arms was touched, while bones from her hand had to be removed after she was attacked by a dog.
Anger: Christine Norman says her sister Ms
Harris committed suicide after being put under pressure by the
Government to return to work
Ms Harris had received incapacity benefit but late last year was asked to attend a fitness-to-work assessment in order to claim its replacement - Employment and Support Allowance.
After she spent two hours struggling on two different buses to get to the centre run by Atos Healthcare her appointment lasted just two minutes.
In January her benefits were stopped.
Mrs Norman, a nurse, said: 'If she was addicted to alcohol or drugs, she would have been given a sick note.
'Being a nurse and a health professional I am so disappointed - anyone could see she wasn't fit to work. She would have loved to have had a job but couldn't.
'How much grief, pain and anguish do you have to go through before they realise?'
Ms Harris had contested the ruling and her first appeal against the decision failed.
A second Department for Work and Pensions tribunal hearing in Cardiff was due to take place on November 15.
However, Ms Harris was found dead at her home on November 2, having taken a suspected overdose.
Paying tribute to her sister, who lost her husband Brian six years ago, Mrs Norman said: 'She was gregarious and loved dogs, and music and to boogie as much as her back would allow.
An inquest into Ms Harris' death has been opened and adjourned.
A Department for Work and Pensions spokeswoman said: 'Our sympathy goes out to the family of Mrs Harris during what must be a very difficult time.
'A decision on whether someone is well enough to work is taken following a thorough assessment and after consideration of all the supporting medical evidence.
'Through a series of independent reviews and by working with medical experts and charities, we have considerably improved the work capability assessment process since 2010 to make it fairer and more accurate.'
An Atos spokeswoman said: 'Our sympathies go out to Ms Harris's family.
'Atos Healthcare carries out assessments on behalf of the Department for Work and Pensions and under its guidelines.
'But we do not make decisions on people's benefit entitlement, nor are we involved in the appeal process.'
For confidential support on suicide matters call the Samaritans on 08457 90 90 90 or visit a local Samaritans branch or click here.
