THE family of a poorly woman who died after her benefits were stopped are seeking a second inquest to examine whether DWP failings contributed to her death.

Jodey Whiting 42, from Stockton, died in February 2017 after the DWP reassessed her eligibility for Employment Support Allowance (ESA) and stopped the benefit.

Housebound Ms Whiting, who had multiple physical and mental illnesses, had also received letters telling her that her housing and council tax benefit would be stopped because they were linked to her ESA.

Just three days after her last ESA payment, on February 21, she took her own life.

An inquest was held in May 2017 and afterwards a report by an Independent Case Examiner concluded that the DWP had made multiple significant errors in how it treated Ms Whiting.

Some of the failings had not been known to her family, who were horrified to learn how the situation had been handled by the DWP.

Her family have now written to the Attorney General to request a fresh inquest into her death from the High Court.

They have also contacted an independent consultant psychiatrist who concluded that the DWP’s failings would probably have had a substantial effect on Ms Whiting’s mental state at the time she died.

Ms Whiting’s mother, Joy Dove, said: “It has been almost three years since Jodey’s death and I am determined to continue to fight for justice.

“The link between the failings by the DWP and my daughter’s death have never been investigated despite years of trying.

“I believe that seeking a new inquest is our only avenue to ensure that a thorough investigation is conducted, in which my family and I can participate, into the circumstances of Jodey’s death and the role played by the DWP failings.

“This has the potential to help not just my family, but also all the others badly affected by poor decision making by the DWP.”

Ms Whiting’s family have obtained an opinion from an independent consultant psychiatrist who concluded that the DWP’s failings would probably have had a substantial effect on her mental state at the time she took her own life.

Merry Varney, solicitor from Leigh Day representing Ms Whiting’s family, said: “Jodey took her own life just days after being told her ESA was being stopped and there is now clear evidence that the decision making by the DWP which lead to her benefits being terminated was completely flawed.”

She added: “The consent being sought by my client from the Attorney General is the first step to achieving a fresh inquest and ensuring there is a full public investigation into the role played by the DWP in Jodey’s death.”