Benefits erroneously terminated led to disabled individual's suicide, coroner's investigation concludes.
A heart-wrenching tale unfolds as a single mother of nine takes her own life, and it appears her benefits being wrongly revoked might have been the trigger.
Jodey Whiting, age 42, bid farewell to her loved ones in written notes, confessing she had no sustenance, couldn't manage her bills, and felt she had reached the end of her tether. During an inquest hearing, it was revealed that Ms. Whiting's hospitalization for pneumonia in late 2016 led her to miss a letter from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) demanding a medical assessment.
In January 2017, Ms. Whiting was informed that she failed to attend the medical assessment, consequently leading the DWP to deem her fit to work. This decision not only resulted in the termination of her Employment and Support Allowance, but also her housing and council tax benefits.
Initially, an inquest into her death in Stockton-on-Tees, County Durham, in 2017 did not explore the role the DWP played in discontinuing her benefits. After battling a lengthy legal struggle, reaching even the Court of Appeal, Jodey's mother, Joy Dove, fought for a second inquest.
During the hearing at Teesside Magistrates' Court, Ms. Dove testified that her daughter—who had six grandchildren—suffered from a brain cyst, chronic pains, a drug dependency, and poor mental health. As her life drew to a close, Ms. Whiting became increasingly secluded at home.
Just two days before her death in February 2017, Ms. Dove spoke with her daughter, remembering her as "shaking and crying" and threatening to take her own life. Ms. Dove firmly believed that the loss of benefits exacerbated her daughter's emotional distress, leading to her tragic demise.
After further investigation, Coroner Clare Bailey concluded that Ms. Whiting's suicide was due to a deteriorating mental state, brought on by the erroneous withdrawal of state benefits. The coroner went on to specify that the DWP's numerous missed opportunities to prevent the significant errors caused a detrimental impact on Ms. Whiting's mental health, ultimately serving as the catalyst for her fatal overdose.
Ms. Dove shared that she had always believed her daughter's death was a consequence of the DWP's mistakes and was relieved when the coroner confirmed her suspicions. "It should not have taken an eight-year fight for justice to get where we are today," she declared.
In 2018, an Independent Case Examiner report into the decision to remove Ms. Whiting's benefits revealed several errors that led to her payments being incorrectly cut. The report also recommended the government compensate her family with £10,000. In response to the report, a DWP director stated that those involved in the case were deeply regretful and expressing their sorrow.
Within the UK, individuals experiencing emotional distress or suicidal thoughts can seek help by contacting Samaritans at 116 123 or [email protected] for support.
The case of Jodey Whiting has illuminated gaps in the DWP's processes, particularly in handling cases of mental health deterioration or suicide following incorrect withdrawal or suspension of benefits. While there is no formal, publicly detailed protocol specific to this issue, public and parliamentary calls for reform persist, emphasizing the need for better safeguards and support for vulnerable claimants.
The DWP's erroneous withdrawal of Jodey Whiting's benefits, which involved termination of her Employment and Support Allowance, housing, and council tax benefits, could potentially have contributed to her mental-health decline that led to her suicide, as her poor mental health was one of the factors causing her seclusion at home. This tragic incident highlights the importance of science and health-and-wellness services in addressing mental-health issues and the need for improved processes within the DWP to prevent similar tragedies involving pneumonia patients or other vulnerable individuals.
