PM admits 'failings' as DWP assessment mistakes led to suicide of mum of nine

In Parliament, MP Paul Williams sought an apology from the Prime Minister for the family of a constituent who had committed suicide after being sanctioned for missing a work capability assessment due to health problems.

Jodey Whiting, aged 42, had several mental and physical health issues which included curvature of the spine and a brain cyst, but was told by benefits assessors she was “fit for work” after she missed an assessment.

After the benefits sanction, Ms Whiting, a mother of nine, was subsequently left to bring up her family with no income coming in, which added to her mental health issues and resulted in a state of despair.

Ms Whiting continued to receive letters from the DWP, and she eventually committed suicide in 2017.

At Prime Minister's Questions (PMQs) Dr Williams, MP for Stockton South, said: “The Independent Case Examiner (ICE) has found multiple and significant failings by the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP), including five missed opportunities to identify that she had mental health problems and to properly safeguard her."

He added: “Her family are asking for an apology and to make sure this can never happen again to anyone else. Can the Prime Minister offer this?

Prime Minister Theresa May, replied by saying: “The honourable gentleman is right to raise this appalling case that took place and our thoughts and sympathies are with Ms Whiting's family at this time.

“What’s been identified is that there were mistakes in handling her case and it’s absolutely right that the Department has apologised for their failings and they are providing compensation to the family.

“That, of course, can never bring Ms Whiting back. The point he made was that we need to learn from this case and that is why the Department are absolutely looking at that case to make sure that we never see these kinds of failings happening again and leading to such a tragic consequence."

Dr Williams is a Labour MP and former GP who also sits on the Health and Social Care Select Committee. He said in a statement on his Facebook page: “I’ve known Jodey Whiting’s mum, Joy, for years – I was her GP.

“Social security is supposed to be there to help the most vulnerable in society, but in this case Jodey was let down. Today I asked the Prime Minister to apologise for the monumental failings in her care.”

Home Secretary, Amber Rudd, recently vowed to change the experience of those of pensionable age being assessed for disability benefits, but these changes will do little to help those like Ms Whiting, who was only 42.

Ms Whiting's family have set up a petition to ‘Make changes to the laws regarding the benefits process'.

On the petition page it says: 'We need the benefits system looking into, and to make sure no one ever has to suffer the loss of a mum and daughter/ grandmother, son/ dad/ granddad etc.

'Jodey took her own life at the age of 42, She had missed an appointment and they stopped her money, Jodey has nine children who she doted on but couldn’t see a way out of the position she found herself in, crippled by illness and having not a penny to her name.'

The ‘Justice for Jodey Campaign’ petition can be found here: https://you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/justice-for-jodey