Mum's Fight After Daughter Takes Own Life When Benefits Cut

Today we feature yet another DWP related death. 

A mother said she "started screaming" when she realised her daughter had taken her own life.

Joy Dove said her daughter Jodey Whiting, from Stockton, who was a mother of nine, died when her benefits were stopped by the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP). 

Jodey took her own life after her benefits were stopped because she missed a health review - despite never seeing the appointment letter. Teesside Coroner’s Court heard that Jodey had battled with mental and physical health problems during her short life.

Plagued by ill health, including a brain cyst and a curved spine, she could barely make it through her Stockton home’s front door. 

The inquest heard she had overdosed before, but the “extreme stress” inflicted by the DWP pushed Jodey over the edge.

“This was the last straw - she didn’t know where to go,” said Joy.

The DWP said: "Suicide is a very complex issue, so it would be wrong to link it solely to anyone's benefit claim."

Note: The ABC is pleased to see that the BBC is covering these cases. We hope it will lead to greater awareness by the public of these issues. 

Image: The family of Jodey Whiting from left: Daughter Leah Bell, 19, mum Joy Dove, 63, daughter Emma Bell, 23, niece Demi Wathen, 19, and daughter Chloey Bell, 17.