Families and friends of lost loved ones have set up the Calum's List website to record the devastating toll of suicides and deaths which have resulted from policies which are snatching away the means of living from the disabled and unemployed.

The website has initially published details of 23 deaths, but the real death toll could number in the thousands - more than 1,000 disability claimants are known to have died between January and August last year when they were told to find work after 12 months.

Calum's List includes a dad who commited suicide after his housing benefit was cut and a 21-year-old woman on jobseeker's allowance who killed herself after 200 unsuccessful job applications.

Apparent victims of the cuts agenda include Leith-based poet Paul Reekie, who killed himself last month. Letters found on his desk had informed him that his housing and disability benefit payments were about to cease.

But the list does not just include suicides. One dad died from a heart attack after being found "fit for work."

Campaigners fear that a Scottish man suffering from chronic lung disease will be the next person to add to the death toll as he has stopped taking his medication in protest against government reforms.

A spokesman for the website said: "This death toll can and will be stopped if those responsible act in a humane manner and do their duty before legal action is taken.

"Surely it is possible to sort out the current all party-political mess that is causing welfare reform-induced death and misery to the most vulnerable in society?

"We don't really want benefits we just want our health back so we can work. The current benefit system is toxic, dangerous and not fit for purpose.

"This is a nightmare driven by successive welfare ministers of all political parties who draw personal salaries of £3,500 per week when cripples like us are expected to survive on £3,500 a year, if we are lucky."

Clive Arnold, from North Yorkshire, provides round-the-clock care for his wife Christine. He has warned that the death toll will continue to rise rapidly unless the government acts now.

Christine is on a medication of 30 tablets a day. She suffers from a range of physical and mental disabilities including the rare congenital disorder Moebius syndrome that causes complete facial paralysis and epilepsy.

Mr Arnold said: "Government cuts, particularly its evil welfare reforms, will continue to cause deaths unless it acts today.

"Many people who have not yet committed suicide have had suicidal thoughts, including my wife."

The Department for Work and Pensions spokeswomn added: "Each of these deaths is a tragedy for the families involved.

"Our reforms are about helping people get off benefits and into work."

 http://www.morningstaronline.co.uk/news/content/view/full/122269