Joy Dove ‘worried’ for families as 10 lose benefits per week
Grandmother Joy Dove from Stockton is ‘worried’ that the amount of young people losing disability benefits when they turn 16 could put families at risk.
It comes after it was revealed that 10 children in the North East lose their disability benefits every week when they turn 16. In Darlington, the number of 16-year-olds who lose this welfare payment is nearly one in three applicants, while in County Durham the number is just over a quarter.
“I am worried more people might have to go through what I went through,” Joy told The Northern Echo.
“I feel sorry for their parents, I wish I could do more to help.”
Joy’s daughter and mum-of-nine Jodey Whiting took her own life in 2017 following the termination of her Employment Support Allowance (ESA) by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). The 42-year-old mum had physical and mental illnesses which left her housebound and reliant on welfare benefits.
Joy, 71, believes this decision was a major factor in her daughter’s death and fought for years to have a fresh inquest to examine the role of the DWP.
As reported, the first inquest into Jodey’s death, held seven years ago, lasted only 37 minutes and Joy did not have any legal representation.
At the time, the coroner refused her request to consider the DWP’s potential role in Jodey’s suicide. However, she was was given permission for a second inquest in March 2023 when the Court of Appeal ruled that a further inquest was needed in the interests of justice, and accepted Joy’s argument that a full investigation was needed due to new evidence.
Joy has now been told Jodey’s second inquest will take place over three days at Teesside Coroner’s Court, in Middlesbrough, beginning on Monday, June 2.
She said the number of children losing out on disability benefits is particularly difficult to hear because “certain people could end up taking their own lives over it.”
Jodey Whiting died in 2017 after her disability benefits were stopped. “It’s hard now to be a kid,” she said.
“There are lots of mental health issues, it affects people at every age.”
(Image: SARAH CALDECOTT) Seventy-five per cent of the 124,000 young people to have had claims rejected since 2013-14 failed on the points-based assessment, according to analysis by the BBC. This includes 75.2 per cent of applicants in Darlington between April 2013 and October 2024, and 74% in County Durham.
A spokesperson for the Department of Work and Pensions said the Government were bringing welfare reform proposals ‘within weeks’, but Joy said that the benefits assessment for the Personal Independence Payment needs to be reworked.
She said it was ‘unbelievable’ that disabled children could be left on the phone for more than two hours in some cases to answer questions on their conditions – “It makes people struggle. I think people give up.”
The DWP said reforms to health and disability benefits will be set out in the Spring to ensure the system supports people who can work to remain in or start employment in a way that is “fair and fiscally sustainable”.
A DWP spokesperson said: “Building on our Get Britain Working White Paper, we will bring forward proposals for reforming the health and disability benefits system within weeks, so that it provides children, young adults and their families with the support they need in a way that’s fair on the taxpayer, and helps those who can work secure employment.”
If you are in need of support you can contact the following:
– Samaritans is available, day or night, 365 days of the year. You can call them for free on 116 123, email them at jo@samaritans.org, or visit www.samaritans.org to find your nearest branch.
– If U Care Share on 0191 387 5661 or text IUCS to 85258
– SANE on 07984 967 708, Calm on 0800 58 58 58