Latest news with #EmploymentandSupportAllowance
Wales Online
15 hours ago
- Business
- Wales Online
State pensioners born in certain years given immediate Winter Fuel Payment increase
State pensioners born in certain years given immediate Winter Fuel Payment increase The payment is worth £100 more depending on when you were born Not everyone is aware of the price differences (Image: Getty ) Millions of state pensioners were controversially stripped of their £300 Winter Fuel Payment over the winter, since the government declared the benefit would be means tested the issue has been highly contentious. It means the vast majority of state pensioners will no longer receive a £300 payment unless they claim a qualifying benefit. Subsequently, Sir Keir Starmer announced a partial reversal on the benefit, pledging to reassess the eligibility threshold to reinstate the payment to more pensioners. The specifics of how this will be implemented or what the criteria might be have not yet been disclosed. This week, Rachel Reeves announced that more pensioners will receive the winter fuel allowance this year, although it still won't be universal. Officials haven't yet said how many more pensioners will be eligible. Rachel Reeves said: "We have listened to the concerns that people had about the level of the means test and so we will be making changes to that. They will be in place so that pensioners are paid this coming winter. "People should be in no doubt that the means test will increase and more people will get winter fuel payment this winter." However, many aren't aware that if you do qualify for the Winter Fuel Payment this year, the exact amount you receive will vary depending on your birth year and possibly other circumstances as well. Article continues below The Winter Fuel Payment was previously automatically given to all state pensioners, but until any changes are announced, the current rule is that you must be claiming a qualifying benefit such as Pension Credit. Those who are of state pension age but under 80, meaning they were born on or before September 22, 1958, and who qualify will receive a £200 payment. However, those aged over 80 - born on September 23, 1944, or earlier - will receive £300, reports the Express. For money-saving tips, sign up to our Money newsletter here . The amount you receive is determined by your age and circumstances during the 'qualifying week' of September 16 to 22, 2024. If you missed this period, you can backdate Pension Credit claims until December, so it's still accessible now. Therefore, if you're over 80 and eligible, your Winter Fuel Payment will rise from £200 to £300. Most qualifying individuals will receive a letter detailing the amount they'll receive and the bank account in which it will be paid to, this is typically the same as the one used for your Pension Credit or other benefits. Article continues below Age UK said: "If you or your partner claims Pension Credit, Income Support, income-based Jobseeker's Allowance or income-related Employment and Support Allowance, the payment should go to the main claimant of the benefit automatically. "You should receive your payment between mid-November and Christmas. Call the Winter Fuel Payment helpline on 0800 731 0160 if you have any enquiries or you don't receive your payment."
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
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. Read more from Sky News: 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. Anyone feeling emotionally distressed or suicidal can call Samaritans for help on 116 123 or email in the UK. In the US, call the Samaritans branch in your area or 1 (800) 273-TALK.
North Wales Chronicle
4 days ago
- Health
- North Wales Chronicle
Disabled woman ‘killed herself after benefits were incorrectly stopped'
Extracts from notes Jodey Whiting, 42, left for family members were read at the second inquest into her death, in which she said she could not pay her bills and had no food. An initial inquest into her death in Stockton-on-Tees in 2017 did not consider the actions of the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) in stopping her benefits. Her mother Joy Dove fought a long legal battle for a second inquest, going all the way to the Court of Appeal. She told the hearing at Teesside Magistrates' Court how her daughter, who was a mother of nine, including two sets of twins, suffered from a curvature of the spine and was later diagnosed with a brain cyst. She dealt with chronic pain for years, developed drug dependency and had poor mental health, Teesside Coroner's Court was told on Monday. Coroner Clare Bailey recorded a conclusion that Ms Whiting's death was suicide 'in the context of a deteriorating mental state, precipitated by the withdrawal of state benefits'. An Independent Case Examiner (ICE) report into the decision to remove Ms Whiting's benefits found that a number of mistakes had been made, that her payments should not have been withdrawn and it recommended that the DWP pay £10,000 to her family. Extracts from notes found alongside prescription drugs in her flat were read in court. Bridget Dolan KC, coroner's counsel, said: 'She wrote about not being able to pay her bills and having no food. 'In some she wrote about feeling breathless and having back pain and trying to pay her bills and being in debt.' Another note stated: 'I have had enough.' In a pen portrait, Ms Dove said: 'Her death really impacted on me, and to learn from the ICE reports of the number of failures by the DWP was to play was a further deep shock that I have not recovered from.' Her father Eric Whiting said in his tribute in court, how she was like the 'Pied Piper' as she always had children around her who adored her. He added: 'She always saw the fun side of life until her health issues started.' Her mother agreed that Ms Whiting, who had six grandchildren, became increasingly housebound in the last years of her life. She had a hospital stay in December 2016 after contracting pneumonia and that meant she missed a letter about her benefits, saying she needed to be medically assessed. Ms Dove said she reassured her daughter that she would help, telling the inquest: 'I said, don't you worry, we will write in and we will explain how you have been in hospital and you are still convalescing.' But 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. Ms Dove said when she saw her daughter, two days before her death, she was 'shaking and crying' and had threatened to kill herself. Ms Dove said she was sure that the stress of losing her benefits was the trigger for her to decide to kill herself. 'I know my daughter and I know it was (that),' she told the inquest. '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.' Helga Swidenbank, a DWP director for disability services, said the organisation should have recognised that Ms Whiting had 'good cause' not to attend a health assessment, given her illnesses and mental health concerns. The witness told the hearing: '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.' Ms Swidenbank said the organisation was now more focused on people's vulnerabilities, although this remained a 'work in progress'. She added: 'I understand that there is a culture shift from being process-driven to being much more compassionate. 'We are not there yet, we still have more work to do.' The coroner cited evidence from psychiatrist Dr Trevor Turner who looked into the background of the case and who said losing her benefits was the 'straw that broke the camel's back'. Ms Bailey said: 'Dr Turner says, and I accept, that withdrawal of her benefits would have had an acute and pervasive effect on Jodey's mental state given her vulnerability and her emotional instability.' 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 praised the family's determined campaign to bring about justice, describing their 'perseverance, resilience and dignity.' After the hearing, Ms Dove said: 'I have always believed that Jodey took her life due to failings by the DWP and today the coroner has 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. '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.' The family's solicitor Merry Varney, from Leigh Day, said: 'Today's conclusion shows the importance of thorough inquests that properly investigate how a death occurred. 'Without them, the dangerous and sometimes deadly way that those unable to work due to ill health or disability are treated by the DWP will remain covered up and unchecked.'
Leader Live
4 days ago
- Health
- Leader Live
Disabled woman ‘killed herself after benefits were incorrectly stopped'
Extracts from notes Jodey Whiting, 42, left for family members were read at the second inquest into her death, in which she said she could not pay her bills and had no food. An initial inquest into her death in Stockton-on-Tees in 2017 did not consider the actions of the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) in stopping her benefits. Her mother Joy Dove fought a long legal battle for a second inquest, going all the way to the Court of Appeal. She told the hearing at Teesside Magistrates' Court how her daughter, who was a mother of nine, including two sets of twins, suffered from a curvature of the spine and was later diagnosed with a brain cyst. She dealt with chronic pain for years, developed drug dependency and had poor mental health, Teesside Coroner's Court was told on Monday. Coroner Clare Bailey recorded a conclusion that Ms Whiting's death was suicide 'in the context of a deteriorating mental state, precipitated by the withdrawal of state benefits'. An Independent Case Examiner (ICE) report into the decision to remove Ms Whiting's benefits found that a number of mistakes had been made, that her payments should not have been withdrawn and it recommended that the DWP pay £10,000 to her family. Extracts from notes found alongside prescription drugs in her flat were read in court. Bridget Dolan KC, coroner's counsel, said: 'She wrote about not being able to pay her bills and having no food. 'In some she wrote about feeling breathless and having back pain and trying to pay her bills and being in debt.' Another note stated: 'I have had enough.' In a pen portrait, Ms Dove said: 'Her death really impacted on me, and to learn from the ICE reports of the number of failures by the DWP was to play was a further deep shock that I have not recovered from.' Her father Eric Whiting said in his tribute in court, how she was like the 'Pied Piper' as she always had children around her who adored her. He added: 'She always saw the fun side of life until her health issues started.' Her mother agreed that Ms Whiting, who had six grandchildren, became increasingly housebound in the last years of her life. She had a hospital stay in December 2016 after contracting pneumonia and that meant she missed a letter about her benefits, saying she needed to be medically assessed. Ms Dove said she reassured her daughter that she would help, telling the inquest: 'I said, don't you worry, we will write in and we will explain how you have been in hospital and you are still convalescing.' But 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. Ms Dove said when she saw her daughter, two days before her death, she was 'shaking and crying' and had threatened to kill herself. Ms Dove said she was sure that the stress of losing her benefits was the trigger for her to decide to kill herself. 'I know my daughter and I know it was (that),' she told the inquest. '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.' Helga Swidenbank, a DWP director for disability services, said the organisation should have recognised that Ms Whiting had 'good cause' not to attend a health assessment, given her illnesses and mental health concerns. The witness told the hearing: '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.' Ms Swidenbank said the organisation was now more focused on people's vulnerabilities, although this remained a 'work in progress'. She added: 'I understand that there is a culture shift from being process-driven to being much more compassionate. 'We are not there yet, we still have more work to do.' The coroner cited evidence from psychiatrist Dr Trevor Turner who looked into the background of the case and who said losing her benefits was the 'straw that broke the camel's back'. Ms Bailey said: 'Dr Turner says, and I accept, that withdrawal of her benefits would have had an acute and pervasive effect on Jodey's mental state given her vulnerability and her emotional instability.' 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 praised the family's determined campaign to bring about justice, describing their 'perseverance, resilience and dignity.' After the hearing, Ms Dove said: 'I have always believed that Jodey took her life due to failings by the DWP and today the coroner has 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. '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.' The family's solicitor Merry Varney, from Leigh Day, said: 'Today's conclusion shows the importance of thorough inquests that properly investigate how a death occurred. 'Without them, the dangerous and sometimes deadly way that those unable to work due to ill health or disability are treated by the DWP will remain covered up and unchecked.'
Glasgow Times
4 days ago
- Health
- Glasgow Times
Disabled woman ‘killed herself after benefits were incorrectly stopped'
Extracts from notes Jodey Whiting, 42, left for family members were read at the second inquest into her death, in which she said she could not pay her bills and had no food. An initial inquest into her death in Stockton-on-Tees in 2017 did not consider the actions of the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) in stopping her benefits. Her mother Joy Dove fought a long legal battle for a second inquest, going all the way to the Court of Appeal. She told the hearing at Teesside Magistrates' Court how her daughter, who was a mother of nine, including two sets of twins, suffered from a curvature of the spine and was later diagnosed with a brain cyst. She dealt with chronic pain for years, developed drug dependency and had poor mental health, Teesside Coroner's Court was told on Monday. Coroner Clare Bailey recorded a conclusion that Ms Whiting's death was suicide 'in the context of a deteriorating mental state, precipitated by the withdrawal of state benefits'. An Independent Case Examiner (ICE) report into the decision to remove Ms Whiting's benefits found that a number of mistakes had been made, that her payments should not have been withdrawn and it recommended that the DWP pay £10,000 to her family. Extracts from notes found alongside prescription drugs in her flat were read in court. Bridget Dolan KC, coroner's counsel, said: 'She wrote about not being able to pay her bills and having no food. 'In some she wrote about feeling breathless and having back pain and trying to pay her bills and being in debt.' Another note stated: 'I have had enough.' In a pen portrait, Ms Dove said: 'Her death really impacted on me, and to learn from the ICE reports of the number of failures by the DWP was to play was a further deep shock that I have not recovered from.' Her father Eric Whiting said in his tribute in court, how she was like the 'Pied Piper' as she always had children around her who adored her. He added: 'She always saw the fun side of life until her health issues started.' Her mother agreed that Ms Whiting, who had six grandchildren, became increasingly housebound in the last years of her life. She had a hospital stay in December 2016 after contracting pneumonia and that meant she missed a letter about her benefits, saying she needed to be medically assessed. Ms Dove said she reassured her daughter that she would help, telling the inquest: 'I said, don't you worry, we will write in and we will explain how you have been in hospital and you are still convalescing.' But 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. Ms Dove said when she saw her daughter, two days before her death, she was 'shaking and crying' and had threatened to kill herself. Ms Dove said she was sure that the stress of losing her benefits was the trigger for her to decide to kill herself. 'I know my daughter and I know it was (that),' she told the inquest. '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.' Helga Swidenbank, a DWP director for disability services, said the organisation should have recognised that Ms Whiting had 'good cause' not to attend a health assessment, given her illnesses and mental health concerns. The witness told the hearing: '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.' Ms Swidenbank said the organisation was now more focused on people's vulnerabilities, although this remained a 'work in progress'. She added: 'I understand that there is a culture shift from being process-driven to being much more compassionate. 'We are not there yet, we still have more work to do.' The coroner cited evidence from psychiatrist Dr Trevor Turner who looked into the background of the case and who said losing her benefits was the 'straw that broke the camel's back'. Ms Bailey said: 'Dr Turner says, and I accept, that withdrawal of her benefits would have had an acute and pervasive effect on Jodey's mental state given her vulnerability and her emotional instability.' 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 praised the family's determined campaign to bring about justice, describing their 'perseverance, resilience and dignity.' After the hearing, Ms Dove said: 'I have always believed that Jodey took her life due to failings by the DWP and today the coroner has 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. '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.' The family's solicitor Merry Varney, from Leigh Day, said: 'Today's conclusion shows the importance of thorough inquests that properly investigate how a death occurred. 'Without them, the dangerous and sometimes deadly way that those unable to work due to ill health or disability are treated by the DWP will remain covered up and unchecked.'
