THE friend of a grieving husband who felt 'let down by the system' after being hit by a huge funeral bill for his wife has called for a change in the benefits system.

Dr John Robinson said change was needed to help people on low incomes.

He was speaking after Amersham man Colin Bowden was refused support for the funeral of wife Marilyn, who committed suicide a year ago on Sunday.

Mr Bowden applied for funeral funding through the Job Centre in Chesham but was turned down as he was not on benefits.

However, the Department for Work and Pensions said the resident of The Gowers would have been eligible for support if he was already on benefits.

Dr Robinson, from Lawson Gardens, Pinner, said: “It's absolutely shambolic people like Colin, who've worked hard all their lives, can't get any help.

“He's never claimed any benefits. What motivation is there for this guy to keep working and not to take benefits? He's resisted them all his life and accrued very little on his pension and he's got no savings.

“It just seems if you are on benefits you get everything. There doesn't seem to be any help for people who are working but not earning much.”

Dr Robinson wrote to the Prime Minister about Mr Bowden's plight and received a response from Pensions Secretary Steve Webb.

Mr Bowden, who works as a window cleaner, has since come to an arrangement where he pays off a certain amount of money owed from the cost of his wife's funeral each month.

Marilyn committed suicide on November 7 last year after suffering from depression.

Mr Bowden said: “I feel the system is totally wrong. I thought they were supposed to help people.”

Patricia Gondim, spokesman for the Department for Work and Pensions, said: “Funeral payments help people on low income, who are claiming certain benefits, towards the costs of arranging a funeral.

“Anyone who disagrees with a decision can ask Jobcentre Plus to reconsider or they can appeal to an independent tribunal.”