Woman worried about bedroom tax killed herself, coroner finds

Stephanie Bottrill told doctor she felt she was being pushed into moving house or paying extra, Birmingham inquest is told

A woman who was worried she would have to move out of her house or pay extra to stay because of the bedroom tax killed herself, a coroner has ruled.
Stephanie Bottrill, 53, had raised a son and daughter in her three-bedroom council house in the West Midlands but was living there alone after her children moved out.

On the day before she died, she told her doctor that she felt she was being pushed into choosing whether to move or to stay and face the prospect of paying extra, the inquest in Birmingham was told. Bottrill also told her GP she felt under pressure to make a quick decision.

Speaking outside the court, Bottrill's brother, Kevin Owens, said worries over the bedroom tax could have been a catalyst for taking her life. The government and her local council expressed their condolences to Bottrill's family and claimed officials had worked with her to try to help her.