Pension credit application/complaint?

missapril75

tibawo wrote: »

The days you quote are targets. .

Correct. I responded to the post that referred to targets supposedly stated to have been 20 weeks.
I very much doubt there was ever a target of 20 weeks.

The reality of actual clearance time, of course, can be different but the subject of the post to which I responded was targets.

missapril75

satarical wrote: »

10 days??? for Pension Credit. I am hodling off making a claim that could have been made a few weeks ago simply because the guy on the telephone in December 2012 told me "we would hope to have your claim in payment within 8 weeks"

But you said you had been officially told 20 weeks a couple of years ago. When the target was considerably different.

The likely clearance time last month isn't the same period is it?

We all know reality may be different to target. Figures can be manipulated. I did over 30 years in DWP and saw the realities. But you quoted an official target which doesn't appear to be very official.

satarical

missapril75 wrote: »

But you said you had been officially told 20 weeks a couple of years ago. When the target was considerably different.

The likely clearance time last month isn't the same period is it?

We all know reality may be different to target. Figures can be manipulated. I did over 30 years in DWP and saw the realities. But you quoted an official target which doesn't appear to be very official.

I have no idea what the targets were a few years ago and now. That is of no interest to me and lots of others. The time it takes is more important. In my case it has come down from a 20 week estimation to about 14 weeks now.

But when someone quotes days they have to be mad.

Targets may be there but I doubt very much that many cases get anywhere near that figure. So I question why have targets in the first place when we all know that they will never be attained?

missapril75

Again I shall state I'm well aware of the difference between targets and reality.

This kind of target is a fair and realistic estimation of the time something will take. When they don't get near the target, it will be amended to something more realistic or the department is going to look very bad when their performance figures are published.

What needs to be remembered is that questions are raised on forums like this, or down the pub, or in the papers, or wherever where people are experiencing problems.

The vast majority of people don't experience such problems. The norm, by its very nature, applies to that vast majority of people.

satarical

missapril75 wrote: »

.

The vast majority of people don't experience such problems. The norm, by its very nature, applies to that vast majority of people.

Are you actually saying that the 'norm' do not have delays like this?

If that is the case why are the Pension Service normally telling people who telephone to ask what the processing time is only to be told that it could be 8 weeks +?

McKneff

Dunroamin wrote: »

How old are your parents - if your mother's old enough to get PC I don't understand why she wasn't claiming her pension.

I was just going to ask exactly the same question.

dodger1

OP, why is your father only receiving £80 per month pension?

McKneff

To be honest, I think there is a lot that is not being said to us.

Where is the dads state pension or if not of pension age, then JSA or whatever.

Again, I would like to know how old they are and wonder why the OP didnt state this at the beginning.

If we dont have all the details, any advice is meaningless.

SandraScarlett

McKneff wrote: »

To be honest, I think there is a lot that is not being said to us.

Where is the dads state pension or if not of pension age, then JSA or whatever.

Again, I would like to know how old they are and wonder why the OP didnt state this at the beginning.

If we dont have all the details, any advice is meaningless.

I think the fact that the OP just referred to "Dad's Pension ", and not "Dad is a pensioner" makes me think that perhaps it is a private pension of £80 a month, and that Dad is over 60, which I think qualifies him for Pension Credit, Mum is younger, and that neither get SRP.

I applied on behalf of a friend last year for her DLA to be increased from LRM to HRM, did all the forms, provided medical proof etc, and she received a standard letter, 2 weeks later, saying it could take up to 11 weeks to reach a decision.

It's well over that now, but when she phones monthly, she's told "we're very busy and short staffed", and then, 2 weeks later, receives another letter, apologising for the delay, but saying they're still looking into it.

xx

missapril75

satarical wrote: »

Are you actually saying that the 'norm' do not have delays like this?

Yes. It's why a delay makes the news and discussion forums. If it was normal there wouldn't be any reason to discuss it.

If that is the case why are the Pension Service normally telling people who telephone to ask what the processing time is only to be told that it could be 8 weeks +?

Do people routinely phone and ask how long things take? I think not. They phone when there has been a delay.

Come on, think about it. Some claims are very straightforward and some are not. You only have to look at the issues raised on this forum to see the complicated nature of some claims.

I've been looking at Average actual clearance times for Pension Credits over the last few years. It's been 10-15 days in the near ten years I have found. Actual time taken, not the target. Pretty consistent.

This is defined as the time it took from the date all information, evidence etc was received to the time it was decided.

Now, remember, that's an average. Now ask yourself who is responsible for the assessors not having the necessary information.

Of course, it needn't be anybody's fault. Identifying what type of trust fund; getting a dozen sets of shares valued (not all in the newspaper); valuing that property in Durban or New Zealand; making enquiries about that £10k in the bank that was £20k three months ago or £60k a year back; does the partner have recourse to public funds etc etc

These are common issues but not necessarily the norm. More common would be nothing more than a superannuation slip enclosed and/or bank statement with a small balance included with the claim.

And subsequent clearance in a matter of days and that would explain most people being happy and how something more unusual makes the news. Or the forums.