Benefit not in bank

prepareathome

I know I am most likely panicking way to early but panicking I am.

My incapacity benefit always goes into my bank at around 12.30am on a Saturday morning every fortnight and has done since they stopped books and moved to paying in banks. My official pay day is Monday but with my bank actually being a building society the money has always gone in then never ever on a Monday, as they transfer funds on Saturdays unlike banks.

Today its not there

Why I am panicking is I was sent my ESA for in october which said it had to be back with them by Dec 13th, a benefits advisor for a charity came and took all my details to fill in my form for me and will be sending it in on Monday.

Now I have been reading up on recent rule changes and from what I can make out as of Oct 30th you were only given 4 weeks to complete and return form. I mentioned this to the advisor but they said as DWP had not written to me about it, it should be ok - they couldn't get anyone out sooner to help me, I cannot write for more than a few seconds without pain and my handwriting is so bad the bank keep questioning my sig as it keeps changing so I needed someone to fill in form for me.

No nothing at all from DWP of course letter could come in morning.
, but could someone in their office possibly have noticed my form was sent out on 24th Oct and saw it was not back - not checking to see if I was informed of the earlier date due in, and stopped my money without even informing me, or can they just stop your money without informing you?

I guess if they have sent out a letter saying money is stopped as its officially due Monday to them they will have told me before its due.

Anyone had this happen?

Molly41

Try not to panic.

It may be that the form has been registered as not returned. I have had a couple of instances where there has simply just been a glitch and my money has not been paid. A phone call to your local office will sort it.

I have also read that monies are going to stop becoming available earlier than their payment date. I know with my bank it has never happened and has always been paid on the right day. It is difficult when you become reliant on the money at an earlier date. Do you have a family member or friend who could help you over the weekend?

prepareathome

I am ok till next week plenty of food in so can live till next week without it. Thanks so much for taking the time to reply, am a lot calmer, just panicked when kept checking bank and nothing it it, maybe they have now made it so bank has to hold onto it till due date you have reassured me.

Thanks

piglet74

I am the same. Neither my wages or my CB has gone in and I am starting to panic!

prepareathome

I wonder if there is a problem with the Bacs system . My bank is a building society who is busy changing over to Faster Payments, was supposed to be up and running by 19th Nov but now they are saying mid Dec so wondering if that has something to do as well.

They don't always announce straight away when the Bacs system goes down, they wait till lots of people complain. Call centre for my bank opens at 8am so will be calling them to see if they have a payment waiting to go to my account on Monday or if there is a problem.

I hope for you its just a glitch and your money comes in today.

piglet74

I think my banks moving to faster payments..there's a message on the internet banking to say from 1st dec you must have ££ in ur account the day bfore u want to make a payment
Will u update wot ur bank says as I'm not sure mine has a call centre to find out. Ta
Hope we r all sorted soon.

piglet74

I foned my bank on the lost an stolen cards line an they say there is a problem and people are just starting to call in they a have no time frame as to when it will b fixed but say it will b asap
I'm in n ireland wit the first trust bank so maybe its a widespread problem hth.

prepareathome

Phoned bank, couldn't get through at first, they told me there had been a problem, would not say what but found my money and moved it into my account, so been up all night panicking for nothing, now so tired so going to go and have a doze.

Wondering though if I should still phone DWP on Monday just to check what they say about form, remind them they have given me till 13th Dec to send it in, nothing I can do about form to get there as advisor said he will be posting it Monday so then up to PO but hopefully will be there by Friday as it did have a first class printed thing on it.

Piglet74 I hope your money is in by now or very soon.

Right got to sleep as i want to go out shopping this afternoon

rogerblack

prepareathome wrote: »

Wondering though if I should still phone DWP on Monday just to check what they say about form, remind them they have given me till 13th Dec to send it in,

As a general rule.
Always send post a week before it needs to get there - it takes at least this long to get through the DWPs internal systems and hit your file.
Never simply send it first class, it needs to be recorded too, as both the DWP and royal mail lose stuff.
Photocopy it before it's sent.

I've had 2 items of first class post (out of about 10) either not show up at the DWP, or show up only after weeks delay.
They lost completely one letter that had arrived with them (tracked)

My experience may not be typical, and ...
Phoning is a good plan.