'Fit for work' tests are prompting vulnerable people to kill themselves, Labour leadership frontrunner Jeremy Corbyn has declared.
The left-winger hit out today after it emerged more than 2,500 sick and disabled people died soon after being told to find a job.
Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) chiefs tried to block the 'emotive' figures, insisting it is 'irresponsible' to claim stopping benefits can kill someone.
But today Mr Corbyn said Britons have ‘institutionalised’ charities and foodbanks to make up for the failures of the welfare state.
He has ‘huge problems’ with the fitness for work tests, he told a Labour leadership hustings hosted by Channel 4.
"I've met so many people with disabilities who've been through fitness for work tests where they've been approved as fit for work and clearly are not,' he said.
“Some are suffering mental health conditions. Some even commit suicide as a result of it,” he adds.
"Most of them, I think in fact 60%, win appeals on this.
"So if 60% of decisions are being overturned on appeal, there’s something badly wrong with the decision-making in the first place.”
It comes just days after Mr Corbyn said Work and Pensions Secretary Iain Duncan Smith should resign over the death figures.
DWP sources have insisted last week's death figures gave no indication of how people died, and many would be down to natural causes.
A spokesman told Mirror Online: "It’s irresponsible to suggest a causal link between the death of an individual and their benefit claim".
But other DWP figures also showed the average death rate among disabled people in the 'work-related activity' group was more than twice that across Britain.
Today's debate saw leadership rival Andy Burnham say he would still cut welfare but do it in a way that was true to Labour values.
And he said there is something 'seriously wrong' with the DWP, which he's promised to strip of its power to dish out benefits in favour of council chiefs instead.
A report by MPs in March warned benefit cuts are driving people to suicide, with 40 cases identified by the all-party committee.
However, help is on hand for people who have been unfairly declared fit for work.
There is an appeals system for those who need it, and you can find out more information about how to use it here.
For confidential help 24 hours a day, all year round call the Samaritans on 08457 90 90 90 or visit samaritans.org.