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Daily Mail
20 hours ago
- Business
- Daily Mail
'There will be more Jodeys': Mother of disabled woman who killed herself after her benefits were cut urges Labour to rethink plans to slash welfare
The mother of a housebound woman who killed herself after her benefits were removed has warned Labour that their proposed disability cuts will lead to similar deaths. Jodey Whiting, 42, from Stockton-on-Tees, had been asked in January 2017 to attend a work capability assessment before her payments were stopped, but she was not well enough to go, her mother Joy Dove told the Teesside Coroner. She was found dead in her flat by family members a month later and an initial inquest recorded a conclusion of suicide but ignored the impact of the Department for Work and Pensions' (DWP) decision. Ms Dove was granted a second inquest into her daughter's death, which ruled on Monday that Ms Whiting had taken her own life aftér her benefits were wrongly ended. And now the victim's mother has called on Sir Keir Starmer to rethink his £5billion benefit cuts which are reportedly 'set to cut disability payments for one million people'. Ms Dove told the Mirror: 'If Labour carry on with their disability cuts there will be more Jodeys. What happened to Jodey is what happens when benefits are taken away. 'They are saying they need to fill this black hole. But they can't fill it with vulnerable people. 'It's the same with the winter fuel allowance and the benefits cap. People need protecting. There are so many people who have taken inspiration from Jodey's story. We need to keep fighting for them.' Ms Dove added that she feels as though she has proved her mother correct following the coroner's verdict, which she claimed was greeted by words of agreement by those in the gallery. Notes found alongside the mother-of-nine's prescriptions drugs were read out in court on Monday, with one saying: 'I've had enough.' 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.' Ms Dove fought a long legal battle for a second inquest, which went all the way to the Court of Appeal. She told Teesside Magistrates' Court how her daughter had nine children including two sets of twins and suffered from a curvature of the spine, later being diagnosed with a brain cyst. An Independent Case Examiner (ICE) report into the decision to remove Ms Whiting's benefits found that a number of mistakes had been made, and her payments should not have been withdrawn. 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.' She added that she reassured her daughter that she would help her, 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 while suffering from pneumonia. And the following month, her mother said Ms Whiting received another letter saying she was fit to work. Ms Dove claimed that her daughter told her she could not breathe or walk out of her flat at this time. Ms Whiting then received another letter from the DWP telling her that her benefits were being stopped, including her housing benefit and council tax. Ms Dove said when she saw her daughter, two days before her death, she was 'shaking and crying' and had threatened to kill herself. She added that she was sure the stress of losing her benefits was the trigger for her decision to take her own life. '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.' Ms Whiting's mother, pictured in 2023, fought a long legal battle for a second inquest, which went all the way to the Court of Appeal Questioned by Jesse Nicholls, for the family, Ms Dove added: 'I know for a fact it was the DWP that caused it. 'She was quite happy for me to go through and look after her. There's no way it was anything other than that.' Her father Eric Whiting, meanwhile, compared her to 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.' Ms Whiting, who had six grandchildren, had suffered from chronic pain, was dependent on opiates and had long-standing mental issues. Her mother agreed that she had become 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 letters about her benefits, saying she needed to be medically assessed. Granting Ms Dove a second inquest in 2023, Lady Justice Whipple said: 'I think it is in the interests of justice that Mrs Dove and her family should have the opportunity to invite a coroner, at a fresh inquest, to make a finding of fact that the (DWP's) actions contributed to Jodey's deteriorating mental health and, if that finding is made, to invite the coroner to include reference to that finding in the conclusion on how Jodey came by her death. 'After all, the department deals with very many people who are vulnerable and dependent on benefits to survive, and the consequences of terminating benefit payments to such people should be examined in public, where it can be followed and reported on by others who might be interested in it.' The original inquest, which lasted just 37 minutes, determined Ms Whiting had taken her own life. Ms Dove's lawyers argued there were 'multiple, significant failings' by the DWP when it terminated her daughter's Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) that were not considered at the previous inquest. Her barrister Jesse Nicholls said: 'The first inquest into Ms Whiting's death provided her family with no catharsis. Indeed, the inquest has had the opposite effect given what is now known about how Ms Whiting came by her death.' Lady Justice Whipple added in her ruling: 'Thirdly, if the findings the family seeks are made, it is at least possible that the coroner will wish to submit a PFD (prevention of future deaths) report to the department. 'Indeed, it may be that the coroner will wish to hear from the department at the second inquest about any remedial steps which have already been taken in light of the ICE Report and as part of the coroner's consideration of whether to make a PFD report.' A Government spokesperson said: 'Our sincere condolences remain with Ms Whiting's family. 'DWP is ready to assist the new coroner with their investigation. We cannot comment on active legal proceedings.' Two photographs of Ms Whiting were placed on the coroner's bench at the start of the hearing. In May, it was revealed that one million people are set to lose their disability payments amid Labour's cost-cutting crackdown on benefits - causing uproar within the party. The huge changes to the welfare system, due to be announced next week, are tipped to see only the most severely disabled people qualify for support amid an overhaul of eligibility criteria. Cuts to the Personal Independence Payment (PIP), for those with a long-term condition which causes them to struggle with mobility or every tasks, will account for the bulk of the £5billion savings. The upheaval will also see payments slashed for many people with mental health conditions, those needing a hearing aid and people who struggle with basic daily processes like eating, washing and dressing themselves. The changes are expected to affect around one million people - and will be applied both to people claiming disability payments for the first time and existing recipients, as reported by the Times. Sir Keir Starmer insists benefits cuts are urgently needed as the welfare bill is 'going through the roof', while Chancellor Rachel Reeves added the government must 'get a grip' on the system. Ministers say savings will be used to bolster employment support and the basic rate of universal credit. But Labour MPs have reportedly criticised the move - including deputy prime minister Angela Rayner and energy secretary Ed Miliband, who raised concerns in cabinet. Even work and pensions secretary Liz Kendall is said to be 'unhappy with the scale of proposed cuts', the New Statesman reported. An announcement on the measures had been expected earlier in May - but was delayed amid a major operation to win over backbench sceptics. Many have spoken out against cuts to PIPs in particular, which disability charity bosses have called 'deeply damaging', 'devastating' and 'a disastrous move'. The reforms also include getting rid of the 'work capability assessment' for benefits based on incapacity for work and preparing people with long-term sickness for work. Ms Kendall is also expected to cut the top rate of benefits for those deemed unfit to work, which currently stands at more than £800 per month - twice the jobseekers' rate. But sweeping changes to the eligibility criteria for PIPs, paid out regardless of whether the person is working, will account for the bulk of the changes. Around 3.2million people claim PIPs - up by more than a million since 2019. Roughly five million people are expected to be claiming them by the end of the decade. The government has suggested making those changes in particular is not desirable but nevertheless necessary - the cost of PIPs is forecast to increase by £15billion in real terms by 2030. PIPs - the major controversy of the package - are currently awarded on a points system, with applicants getting scored based on how difficult they find certain everyday and mobility-related activities. The number of points they get determines the grant they receive. Amounts range between £1,500 and £9,600 a year. But from now on, applicants will need to score at least four points on at least one activity to qualify for being considered for a payment. The need for a hearing aid does not meet the threshold. Those who need help to wash their hair or body below the waist would not qualify for support - but those who need help to wash their upper body would. Needing help going to the toilet would meet the threshold - but those who need reminding to use it would not. Those who need help cooking a meal would qualify for support - but those who could use a microwave would not. Needing to be reminded to see people face-to-face would not be supported - but needing help to actually have those interactions would. Applicants who get the four points needed to qualify for being considered would then need to get another four points on top of that to get the lower rate - and another eight to get the higher one.
The Independent
a day ago
- Health
- The Independent
Disabled woman took her own life after benefits wrongly cut off, coroner rules
A disabled woman died by suicide after her benefits were wrongly cut off, a coroner has ruled, prompting renewed scrutiny of the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). Jodey Whiting, 42, who suffered from chronic pain and mental health issues, left notes for her family detailing her struggles to pay bills and afford food, a second inquest into her death heard. The initial 2017 inquest did not consider the DWP's role in halting her benefits. Ms Whiting's mother, Joy Dove, pursued a lengthy legal battle, ultimately reaching the Court of Appeal, to secure a second inquest. 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 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. The court heard that Ms Whiting, a mother of nine, had a curvature of the spine and a brain cyst. 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.' Ms Whiting's father Eric Whiting said in his tribute in court that his daughter '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 Ms Whiting 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: '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.' If you are experiencing feelings of distress, or are struggling to cope, you can speak to the Samaritans, in confidence, on 116 123 (UK and ROI), email jo@ or visit the Samaritans website to find details of your nearest branch. If you are based in the USA, and you or someone you know needs mental health assistance right now, call or text 988, or visit to access online chat from the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. This is a free, confidential crisis hotline that is available to everyone 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
BBC News
a day ago
- Health
- BBC News
Benefits death inquest: Jodey Whiting's mum to 'fight for others'
A campaigning mother has promised to fight for other families after a coroner found her disabled daughter took her own life when her benefits were wrongly Jody Whiting, 42, from Stockton, died in February 2017 days after her disability benefits were halted by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).For eight years her mother Joy Dove fought for a second inquest after the first hearing ruled suicide, but failed to take into account the role the DWP decision played in the Dove said although the campaign's success would not bring Jodey back, she was delighted the coroner had recorded "the truth" and she would "fight for other families" in a similar position. Ms Dove told BBC Radio Tees: "It's hard to take in, I'm shocked but delighted and happy the coroner recorded that Jodey took her own life because her benefits were stopped."It won't bring Jodey back and it was hard to go back to the same court where it all started."The fight for Jodey has been concluded, but I will always try to help other families going through something similar and they can always get in touch."She said the campaign had taken its toll on her health and she had been hospitalised with high blood pressure and suffered migraines."I've been online this morning and have read hundreds of messages from people saying 'well done', but I now need a long rest," Ms Dove said. On Monday the senior coroner for Teesside, Clare Bailey, recorded a verdict of suicide due to a "deteriorating mental state" precipitated by the Department for Work and Pensions' weeks before her death Ms Whiting had been deemed fit to work, having missed an assessment because she was in hospital with DWP said it was "deeply regretful" after the inquest heard Ms Whiting "had lost hope" at the time of her death. Extracts from notes Ms Whiting left for family members were read at the hearing and revealed she could not pay her bills and had no food. An initial inquest in May 2017 recorded a verdict of suicide but did not consider the actions of the DWP in stopping her Dove fought a long legal battle for the second hearing, taking it all the way to the Court of said: "The consultant psychiatrist went right through Jodey's life and read all the reports and I'm pleased he agreed that what the DWP did was the straw that broke the camel's back." If you have been affected by any issues in this report, help and support is available on the BBC Action Line. Follow BBC Tees on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.
Sky News
2 days ago
- Health
- Sky News
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.
The Independent
2 days ago
- Health
- The Independent
Second inquest into mother's death after losing benefits hears of debt concerns
A housebound disabled woman who killed herself after her benefits were cut left notes saying she was unable to pay her bills and had no food, a second inquest into her death has heard. Jodey Whiting, 42, from Stockton-on-Tees, had been asked to attend a work capability assessment before her payments were stopped, but had not been well enough to attend, her mother told the Teesside Coroner. Family members found her in her flat in February 2017 and an initial inquest recorded a conclusion of suicide but it did not consider the impact of the Department for Work and Pensions' (DWP) decision. 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. An Independent Case Examiner (ICE) report into the decision to remove Ms Whiting's benefits found that a number of mistakes had been made, and her payments should not have been withdrawn. 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.' Ms Whiting had suffered from chronic pain, was dependent on opiates and had long-standing mental issues, the inquest heard. 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 letters 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 the following month, her mother said Ms Whiting received another letter saying she was fit to work. Ms Dove told the inquest her daughter told her she could not breathe or walk out of her flat. Ms Whiting received another letter from the DWP telling her that her benefits were being stopped, including her housing benefit and council tax. 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 take her own life. '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.' Questioned by Jesse Nicholls, for the family, Ms Dove added: 'I know for a fact it was the DWP that caused it. 'She was quite happy for me to go through and look after her. 'There's no way it was anything other than that.' Two photographs of Ms Whiting were placed on the coroner's bench at the start of the hearing. The inquest continues.
