A grandmother thought to have killed herself over the Government’s “bedroom tax” had already spent the winter without heating to save cash, neighbours said.
Stephanie Bottrill was hit by a lorry on the M6 on May 4.
The 53-year-old, from Meriden Drive, Kingshurst, Solihull, left a note telling her son Steven: “Don’t blame yourself for me ending my life.
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“The only people to blame are the Government.”
Steven, 27, said his mother was distraught at moving out of her home of 18 years because she could not afford the extra £20-a-week in rent needed after her housing benefit was cut.
Neighbours said the mum-of-two had been so worried about money that she had not used her heating during the bitter winter months.
Tracey Hurley, who lives next door, said she took a meal to Ms Bottrill the day before her death as she had not eaten in three days.
Mrs Hurley said there was “never a light on in the house” over the winter and the heating was off because Ms Bottrill feared she could not afford to pay the bill.
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Ms Bottrill lived alone in her three-bedroom home after her children moved out, leaving her with a 25 per cent reduction in her housing benefit as she had two spare rooms.
Lorry driver Steven yesterday told how the loss of the cash was the last straw after her daughter Laura moved out.
“She was sad about Laura going but she had got over that and was coping,” he said. “Being asked for the extra bedroom tax money was just too much for her.
“She didn’t want to go but she knew she had to. She couldn’t afford to stay. It was too hard.
“She was fine before the bedroom tax. It was dreamt up in London, by people in offices and big houses. They have no idea the effect it has on people like my mum.”
Another neighbour, who would only be identified as Deborah, said residents raised a collection to help pay for Ms Bottrill’s funeral.
“She had nothing in the end, and it’s really upset a lot of people in the street,” she said.
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Solihull Council Labour group leader David Jamieson, who knows the family, added: “I’m absolutely appalled this lady has taken her own life because she was worried about how she would pay the bedroom tax.
“I hope the Government will take notice and reconsider this policy.”