A coroner has ruled that a disabled mother of nine took her own life after the Department for Work and Pensions wrongly stopped her benefits, following an eight-year legal battle by her family.
Jodey Whiting, 42, from Stockton-on-Tees, was found dead in February 2017, two weeks after being denied Employment Support Allowance because she had been deemed fit to work.
Senior Coroner Clare Bailey recorded a conclusion that Whiting's death was suicide "in the context of a deteriorating mental state, precipitated by the withdrawal of state benefits".
Her mother, Joy Dove, 71, fought all the way to the Court of Appeal for a second inquest after the original lasted just 37 minutes and did not consider the DWP's actions.
Jodey Whiting
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Teesside Magistrates’ Court
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Whiting suffered from 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, the inquest heard.
In December 2016, she was hospitalised with pneumonia, which meant she missed a letter about her benefits requiring a medical assessment.
It was only after being discharged that a DWP letter was found among unopened mail at her flat, asking why she had not attended the assessment.
Dove reassured her daughter 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."
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Joy Dove, 71, fought all the way to the Court of Appeal for a second inquest to be held
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However, in January 2017, Whiting was told she had missed the medical assessment and was therefore judged fit to work. As well as losing her Employment and Support Allowance, she would also lose housing and council tax benefits.
Dove said when she saw her daughter two days before her death, she was "shaking and crying" and had threatened to kill herself.
Extracts from notes found alongside prescription drugs in Whiting's 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."
The coroner found there had been "five missed opportunities to avoid the significant errors" by the DWP.
Psychiatrist Dr Trevor Turner said losing her benefits was the "straw that broke the camel's back".
Helga Swidenbank, a DWP director for disability services, told the hearing the organisation should have recognised that Whiting had "good cause" not to attend a health assessment, given her illnesses and mental health concerns.
She 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."
Joy Dove speaking outside the Court of appeal
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An Independent Case Examiner report found that a number of mistakes had been made, that her payments should not have been withdrawn and recommended the DWP pay £10,000 to her family.
After the hearing, 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."
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."
Anyone who is in emotional distress, struggling to cope or at risk of suicide can call the Samaritans anonymously for free from a UK phone on 116 123 or go to samaritans.org.
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