Description

I am just an ordinary mum yet I would go to the ends of the earth to get justice for my daughter If I can change the way people are treated then Jodey will not have died in vain I now feel that this was her destiny to change the lives of millions of others

While Jodey Whiting was stuck in hospital battling pneumonia over Christmas a letter dropped on her doormat from the Department of Work and Pensions asking her to attend an assessment It was a letter she never saw

Despite suffering from major health problems and needing daily care the powersthatbe callously halted benefit payments for the mumofnine While waiting for her appeal and with no money coming in Jodey killed herself aged just 42 Another DWP letter pronouncing her fit to work was sent to her home three days after her tragic death

A Mothers Jobis the story of how Jodeys mum Joy Dove 67 took on the system and won justice for her daughter A former cleaner and shopworker she is intimidated by nothing and nobody

Joy reveals how she struggled to raise her family as a single mother living on the now notorious Benefits Street estate in StocktononTees Of how Jodey her middle daughter developed problems including curvature of the spine a brain cyst and bipolar and personality disorders and how as her health deteriorated Joy became her unofficial carer visiting several times a day

Jodey left farewell notes following her suicide warning that her youngest son Cory a twin was particularly vulnerable Tragically her premonition was realised when unable to cope with his grief he died from a drug overdose aged 19 in May 2020 Joy felt that the DWP had stolen two members from her family

An inquiry after Jodeys death found the DWP had failed to follow its own safeguarding practice It issued an apology and compensation The case was discussed in Parliament where the Prime Minister labelled it appalling Joy launched Justice For Jodey which aims to hold the DWP to account and to prevent other tragedies She met other grieving families and her campaign saw her take centre stage at the Labour Party conference and argue her case in the High Court