A disabled mother of nine took her own life after the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) mistakenly stopped her benefits, leaving her with notes saying she had no food and could not pay bills. Jodey Whiting, 42, was housebound and unable to walk when she died in 2017.
At a rare second inquest in Middlesbrough, coroner Clare Bailey recorded a conclusion of suicide, stating it was precipitated by the mistaken withdrawal of benefits. Whiting's mother, Joy Dove, said: 'I know for a fact. It was the DWP that caused it.'
The inquest heard that Whiting's employment and support allowance was stopped because she failed to attend a medical assessment, but she had been in hospital with pneumonia at the time. She was deemed fit to work and also lost her housing and council tax benefits. Notes found in her flat included references to being in 'debt, debt, debt' and having 'had enough'.
An independent case examiner found that mistakes were made and payments should not have been withdrawn. Helga Swidenbank, a DWP director, said staff were 'deeply regretful and very sorry' and acknowledged a need for a culture shift towards more compassion. The family's solicitor, Merry Varney, said the cause of death was 'the DWP'.
