Disabled woman took her own life after benefits wrongly stopped, coroner finds
A disabled mother took her own life after her benefits were incorrectly stopped, a coroner has concluded.
Jodey Whiting, 42, left notes to her family members, saying she had no food, could not afford her bills, and that she had "had enough", an inquest heard.
The mother-of-nine had a hospital stay in December 2016, after contracting pneumonia, that meant she missed a letter about her benefits, saying she needed to be medically assessed.
In January 2017, Ms Whiting was told she had missed the medical assessment and she was therefore judged to be fit to work.
As well as losing her Employment and Support Allowance, she would also lose housing and council tax benefits.
An initial inquest into her death in Stockton-on-Tees, County Durham, in 2017 did not consider the Department for Work and Pensions' (DWP) role in ending her benefits.
Ms Whiting's mother Joy Dove fought a long legal battle for a second inquest, going all the way to the Court of Appeal.
Ms Dove said when she saw her daughter two days before her death in February 2017, she was "shaking and crying" and threatened to kill herself.
She told the hearing at Teesside Magistrates' Court the loss of benefits contributed to her daughter's death.
"I know my daughter and I know it was (that)," she said.
"It was the fact she couldn't find a job, the worry of paying bills, and being pushed out after being so vulnerable all those years and years."
Wrongly withdrawn benefits 'was trigger'
Ms Dove told the inquest that her daughter - who had six grandchildren - had a brain cyst, chronic pains, a drug dependency, and poor mental health.
She added that Ms Whiting became increasingly housebound in the last years of her life.
On Monday, coroner Clare Bailey concluded that Ms Whiting's death was suicide "in the context of a deteriorating mental state, precipitated by the withdrawal of state benefits".
The coroner added: "Her actions were in the context of her benefits having been wrongly withdrawn by the DWP in circumstances where there had been five missed opportunities to avoid the significant errors.
"This had the effect of negatively impacting upon her mental health, and was the trigger to her taking a fatal overdose," the coroner added.
'It should not have taken an eight-year fight'
After the hearing, Ms Dove said she "always believed that Jodey took her life due to failings by the DWP" and the coroner had "confirmed that mistakes made by the DWP in the way they handled Jodey's case caused her death".
"It should not have taken an eight-year fight for justice to get where we are today," she said.
"It has been an uphill battle trying to get answers and accountability, but I would never give up.
"I was determined to keep fighting for justice for Jodey."
An Independent Case Examiner report into the judgment to remove Ms Whiting's benefits discovered several mistakes were made, that her payments should not have been cut, and recommended the government compensate her family with £10,000.
Helga Swidenbank - a DWP director for disability services - said: "I was not in post at the time, but those who I have spoken to are deeply regretful and sorry about what happened.
"There were a number of opportunities to have picked up concerns about Jodey, and we are very sorry about that."
She added that the DWP has "more work to do" in regard to focusing more on people's vulnerabilities.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mail
27 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Female law firm worker sued for victimisation after male colleague mentioned 'pretty privilege' and told her 'good girl'
A female law firm supervisor sued for victimisation after complaining about a male colleague discussing 'pretty privilege' - where better looking women are more likely to succeed. Catherine Guinee reported Aaron Hodges to bosses for claiming that attractive women are more likely to secure contracts, an employment tribunal heard. The 49-year-old also complained that he had said 'good girl' to her and his remarks led to him receiving a warning about the 'need to be careful about his use of language in the workplace'. However, after Miss Guinee lost her job shortly afterwards she launched legal proceedings claiming the firm had failed to investigate her allegations properly. Her claims were dismissed after the tribunal ruled that her employers had not ignored her complaint. The hearing in central London was told Miss Guinee started working at Pogust Goodhead, a London-based law firm with over 500 staff members, in March 2023. The firm set up a call centre for people to make claims relating to the diesel emissions scandal, with Miss Guinee - who suffers from multiple sclerosis - hired as a client services supervisor. The hearing was told that shortly after she started she made the complaint to boss Urika Shrestha about colleague Mr Hodges. Employment Judge Anthony Snelson said: 'We find that, probably very early on [Miss Guinee] did complain privately to her colleague about an exchange with Mr Hodges in which he had said 'good girl' to her and another in which the two had discussed 'pretty privilege', the notion that female candidates regarded as good-looking were more likely to secure training contracts than others seen as less attractive. 'We accept [Ms Shrestha's] evidence evidence that she spoke with Mr Hodges and reminded him of the need to be careful about his use of language in the workplace.' The tribunal did find that Ms Shrestha did not tell Miss Guinee that she had had this conversation, however, The tribunal heard that on April 11 - ahead of a meeting - she sent a message to her boss complaining about competition within the team. She sent another message to the head of HR, saying: 'I have relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis. I do not need mind games, being messed around, being pulled one way and another.' She then approached another line manager, clearly agitated, and started shouting that things were 'bullshit' and that she was being denied her access to certain reports because she was a woman. When the meeting started, when a colleague was speaking, Miss Guinee started pointing and shouting at her, the hearing was told. She again complained of 'bullshit' and called her a 'little girl', which shocked the other members of the team. She then called Mr Hodges 'adopted', 'scummy' and a 'money-grabber' and claimed Ms Shrestha was treating staff like 'slaves'. Ms Guinee was then asked to go home and it was later agreed by colleagues that she should be fired as 'she did not meet the standards required for her role'. She then sued for disability and sex discrimination as well as victimisation. Regarding Mr Hodges' remarks, the tribunal said: 'We find that there was no 'failure' to follow up the complaint' and also ruled that her gender and MS had nothing to do with her being fired as no one involved knew of her illness. EJ Snelson said: 'If, as we find, the decision to dismiss was taken at a time when the decision maker had no knowledge of the relevant medical condition, it follows that that condition cannot have been the reason, or a material reason, for the dismissal. 'It was common ground that at the time of dismissal [Miss Guinee] had taken no sick leave. She exhibited no symptoms in the workplace. 'The person who dismissed her was the very person who had interviewed and appointed her only a month earlier. The notion that he was disposed to discriminate against on her grounds of sex is entirely unsubstantiated. '[Miss Guinee] was dismissed in accordance with her contract, under which [Pogust Goodhead] was at liberty to terminate on notice.'
The Guardian
28 minutes ago
- The Guardian
Share your blackbird sightings with us this summer
Blackbird populations in southern England and Greater London have plummeted in recent years. The Usutu virus, first detected in the UK in London in summer 2020, is thought to be a factor behind their decline. The British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) has asked the British public to contribute to their Blackbirds in Gardens survey to help understand how they are faring. How are the blackbirds where you are? Have you noticed any changes in their number compared to previous years? Have they declined, increased, or stayed the same? You can tell us about your blackbird sightings using this form. Please include as much detail as possible. Please note, the maximum file size is 5.7 MB. Please note, the maximum file size is 5.7 MB. Please note, the maximum file size is 5.7 MB. Your contact details are helpful so we can contact you for more information. They will only be seen by the Guardian. Your contact details are helpful so we can contact you for more information. They will only be seen by the Guardian. If you include other people's names please ask them first.
The Independent
35 minutes ago
- The Independent
Watch: Police helicopter chases mobile phone thief through London
A police helicopter and multiple officers on motorcycles chase down a mobile phone snatcher through the streets of London in dramatic helicopter and bodycam footage. Video released on Wednesday (4 June) shows the thief, who stole an iPhone 16 Pro Max, riding an e-bike through busy streets across the capital. The Metropolitan Police said that within minutes of the victim making the call, they pursued the thief. Within an hour, officers managed to catch up to the suspect, who jumped off his bike and lay face down on the ground as he was placed under arrest. Police said the man pleaded guilty to multiple offences, including robbery, dangerous driving, and driving without insurance.
