'i would never give up': jodey whiting's mum on eight-year battle for truth

A grieving mum spoke of her relief after a coroner confirmed the reasons behind her daughter's suicide following an eight-year fight. Jodey Whiting, 42, took her own life in 2017 about

two weeks after her Employment Support Allowance (ESA) was withdrawn by the Department for Work and Pensions. She left notes for family members in which she said she could not pay her bills

and had no food. 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". Her mum, Joy Dove said she always believed her daughter took her life due to the DWP error. The 71-year-old said: "It is clear from the coroner’s conclusion that

had the DWP followed their own protocols at the time of Jodey’s death then her benefits would not have been terminated, causing her so much distress she felt she had no way out. I am

grateful to the coroner for their thorough examination of the circumstances surrounding Jodey’s death. "To get the conclusion I have been fighting so long for means the world to me and

Jodey’s family. I have always known that the failings of the DWP led to Jodey’s death and that has now been confirmed by this inquest." Ms Whiting, from Thornaby, was a vulnerable

mum-of-nine, who had multiple physical and mental illnesses which left her housebound and reliant on welfare benefits. She took her own life after the DWP suspended her benefits because she

missed a work capability assessment. Mrs Dove told the inquest at Teesside Coroner's Court on Monday her daughter had missed the first appointment letter due to being in hospital with

pneumonia at the time. After receiving a second letter saying she was deemed "fit to work", she said Ms Whiting was shaking, crying and looked like she had "lost all

hope". The coroner cited evidence from psychiatrist Dr Trevor Turner who looked into the background of the case and said losing her benefits was the "straw that broke the

camel's back" for Ms Whiting. 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

that her payments should not have been withdrawn. In her conclusion, the coroner 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. 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." An initial inquest following Ms Whiting's death did not consider the actions of the DWP in stopping her benefits. For years, her mother fought a

legal battle for a second inquest, going all the way to the Court of Appeal. "It has been an uphill battle trying to get answers and accountability, but I would never give up,"

said Mrs Dove. "I was determined to keep fighting for justice for Jodey. "It should not have taken an eight-year fight for justice to get to where we are today. It is not just me

who has been fighting for justice for Jodey, my whole family has been beside me. "I have also had many other families in similar situations reach out to me and support me too. It has

been over eight years since we lost our Jodey, but she is with us every day. "Her family misses her terribly. Jodey’s family was her life and she loved her babies – her nine children -

and her six grandchildren more than anything in the world." Helga Swidenbank, a DWP director for disability services, had told the second inquest 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." Mrs Dove said she hopes the DWP continues to make improvements, adding: "I

hope that these new measures will help safeguard other unwell and disabled people like my Jodey to ensure no others are ever treated so badly, left humiliated and ashamed through no fault of

their own and then ignored and dismissed when they are trying to do everything right to make sure they can get the vital support they need. "People struggling with their mental health

should be treated with compassion and understanding. They might not always fit neatly into the procedures of organisations like the DWP but it is vital that mental health is understood in

every policy and considered before every significant decision that affect someone’s welfare and livelihood.” Merry Varney, partner at law firm Leigh Day, who represented Mrs Dovey, said:

"Today’s conclusion shows the importance of thorough inquests that properly investigate how a death occurred." FOR TEESSIDE UPDATES AND BREAKING NEWS DIRECT TO YOUR INBOX EVERY

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