Deferred state pension - hasn't arrived - how long does it take anyone know?

usignuolo

At the start of June I submitted a claim for a deferred state pension plus lump sum, to start from 1st July. I was told the payments would be in two stages and I hear back from the Pensions Service sometime during 3rd week of July, although payments would of course be backdated.

So far so nothing. I phoned yesterday and could not get through. I phoned today and was told all their systems were down and I would need to phone tomorrow.

Has anyone else claimed a deferred pension + lump sum lately? if so did you get in on time?

chesky369

When I did it - a couple of years ago - I gave them four months notice, as I wanted to be doubly-assured it would arrive on time. Belt and braces.

Sixtails

You should have your basic pension awarded first, it is only once this has been done that the case can be referred to the specialist team for the deferral to be looked into. Once your pension has been awarded, you will get a letter from the specialist team giving you the options you have for the deferred money. They should issue this letter around 2-3 weeks after the case has been taken over by the specialists. Allowing for postage, you should yet this within around a month of you receiving the initial entitlement notice.

After they have received you're reply, they have a government set target of 60 days to issue your payment. Obviously, this is dependent on you answering all the questions though, if something is missed the payment will be delayed as they'll have to write out again.

Also, if i can give you some general information which may help you when you call the pension service regarding deferral - call before 4pm. After 4pm the specialist team tends to have left so they can't be chased if needed. More importantly though, after 4pm you won't always get through to a state pension trained advisor as pension credit advisors take overflow calls, generally speaking this doesn't happen before 4pm. Normally, the best time to call sp is early in the morning, before 10am as it's quietest then.

usignuolo

I got through to the Pensions Service this morning and spoke to someone who looked up my file and said I should have received my basic pension by now for this month. They did not know why I had not. They said my case showed on the computer system as held in a deferral caseworkers file but with no reason why it was delayed and asked if I had received my deferral questionnaire. I said no and no pension either. The person on the phone said they would send the deferral team a memo chasing it up.

They said there is no back log at present and they have no idea of the reason for the delay. There is nothing out of the ordinary in my case and indeed I had a quote last year. Maybe the case worker with my file is on holiday or off sick? It's a good job I was not counting on the money to come through this month.

placido

Hi

I got mine a couple of months ago with no problems at all.

I claimed about three months before I wanted the pension to commence and it went in to my bank account smack on time.

About three weeks after my pension commenced I received the letter of notification which I completed immediately and sent back the same day.

The lump sum was paid into my account about five weeks later. So from the commencement of my pension the whole process took about eight weeks to complete.

I would advise anyone claiming to give plenty of advance notice; at least a couple of months before you want the deferred pension to begin.

Also, bear in mind that the Pension Service do not do "acknowledgements",so when you send in the claims and completed forms; send by recorded delivery so that you can track that they have been received, or perhaps telephone to confirm that the claims are in the system and up and running.

When you finally get the lump sum you will feel good.

usignuolo

Just to say still nothing has arrived, no pension, no letter and no lump sum. It is now two months since I first claimed it. I phoned up again today (third time) and this time, for the first time, they admitted there is a backlog in the team doing the calculations. So if you are intend to claim a deferred pension you need to build in a minimum two month delay before you can expect to receive it.