Amy Evans, of Lowestoft, launches petition after money worries led to her mum Kathleen Moore taking her own life

A Lowestoft woman is fighting for more financial support after her mum's money worries drove her to take her own life.

Kathleen Moore, 60, had spent the last four years struggling to make her mortgage payments after they shot up by £600-a-month due to rising interest rates on her interest only loan.

The mum-of-two had osteoporosis, which hindered how much she could work as a dog sitter – and she was too young to retire and receive her pension.

Daughter Amy Evans, 37, said her mum was trying to work at least 30 hours a month.

She rented out rooms in her home when she could to help make her mortgage payments, but still had to rely on foodbanks at times.

Amy said her mum would often talk about her money problems, but did not let on how bad the situation was.

Kathleen applied for personal independence payment (PIP) and Universal Credit but was told she did not meet the criteria, due to her age and because she had a mortgage.

Amy was ‘devastated’ when she took the call to say her mum had taken her own life in August 2024.

Now, the stay-at-home-mum is petitioning to see more financial and mental health support for those over 60, including a review into the eligibility criteria for Universal Credit and PIP.

Amy, a cleaner, said: "She'd talk about money so much. It consumed her – the worry – for such a resilient person.

"She wasn't entitled to Universal Credit because she had a mortgage. She wasn't poorly enough for PIP.

"Everywhere she turned there were no answers. If someone had helped, she'd still be here."

Amy said she had noticed her mum started stressing about money after becoming single four years ago.

She said: "She was with her partner for 10 years and they went their separate ways. It made it difficult for my mum financially.

"The interest rates went up. I think her mortgage went up from £100 to £600-a-month."

Kathleen could only work so much due to her health and became so desperate she tried to apply for financial support from the government, but did not meet the criteria.

She also rented rooms in her home out, but Amy said she had experienced tenants disappear without paying.

Amy offered for her mum to stay with her if she needed to, but Kathleen was ‘proud’ and wanted to stay in her own home.

Amy said: "It took its toll on her. It took a lot for her to ask for help – I think she was ashamed."

The family still did not realise quite how bad things had got and said she always seemed to ‘have a dip but get back on her feet’.

Amy received a call on August 13 to tell her her mum had taken her own life. Kathleen was on life-support for two days before dying on August 15.

It was only after her death that Amy realised the severity of her mum’s money worries.

She said: "It wasn't really until she'd gone that we looked at all the paperwork and saw how desperate she'd become.

"She could never really make ends meet. She got desperate and bought into loan sharks.

"She was so worried all the time about having a roof over her head."

Now Amy wants to see a change in the support available to those aged over 60.

She wants to see a review into the eligibility criteria for Universal Credit and personal independence payment (PIP) to ensure individuals aged 60 and over who are self-employed, carers, or single without dependents are no longer ‘unfairly’ excluded.

She also wants to see a dedicated mental health counselling service for those aged 60 and over.

Amy said: "She needed a financial solution. Someone to talk to could have changed what she was planning."

Amy said she and her family would fondly remember their mum.

She said: "She was the life and soul of most parties when she was younger. She was very resilient.

"I hope the petition will save someone else."

Support Amy's petition at https://www.change.org/p/improve-financial-support-and-mental-health-access-for-people-over-60