I got a letter telling me I was dead and had to get a doctor’s note to prove I’m not: Former town councillor consults GP to confirm he is still alive after ‘getting bizarre message from DWP’
- Mark Cusack, 48, claims to have a letter from the DWP informing him he is dead
- The Hungerford former councillor had to get a doctor’s note to prove he’s alive
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A former town councillor got the ‘shock of his life’ when he received a government letter informing that he was dead.
Mark Cusack, 48, says that the ominous letter from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) left him with no National Insurance number and no possible way to pay his council tax bill.
He was forced to get a note from his GP to inform the DWP that he was, in fact, alive.
Mr Cusack, from Hungerford, Berkshire, who lives alone with his dog Puggles, says that the local council were even informed of his ‘demise’.
Even though he found the ‘funny side’ of the situation, he still reported the matter to Action Fraud, having had a previous issue with identity theft.
Mark Cusack (with Puggles) received a letter from he DWP informing him that he was dead, leaving him without a National Insurance number
He said: ‘The current situation may seem farcical but it has many ramifications.
‘I really wouldn’t want anyone else to be faced with a situation where they’re suddenly “deceased”, especially not someone with a health condition or who is in a vulnerable situation.’
‘Unfortunately, reversing everything is not as simple as making a phone call or writing a letter.’
The former councillor immediately got in touch with his doctor regarding the situation, with the surgery writing that Mr Cusack ‘is alive’.
The Hungerford Surgery-headed notepaper, states: ‘I am writing as the above gentleman’s General Practitioner.
‘I can confirm I consulted with him today in person and that he is alive.’
Mr Cusack said of his doctor: ‘She joked that I should consider cashing in any life insurance I might have.’
It comes as the DWP, along with ambulance, health, social care workers and more took part in a 48-hour walkout.
The MailOnline has contact the DWP for comment.
