Winter Fuel Payment 2014/2015

zygurat789

seven-day-weekend wrote: »

No flattery intended! I hadn't noticed your post further up the thread

Not noticed what I said, what a put down.

oliveoil99

I receive my state-pension in 5 weeks time, I received a letter this week inviting me to claim the WFA 2014/15 over the phone which I did. Just asked to details NI number date of birth then asked if I expected to be in a care home, custody or hospital a certain week in September assuming they would not pay you in these senarios but as I cann't see into the future any of the above 'could' happen. I asked if I have to apply each year the young man said no now you are on the system it will be automatic.

WM_Harry

Applying by phone seems to be the way to do it but avoid the 0845 number given in the letter.

The website gives an alternate landline number 0191 218 7777 that seems to work. Perversely if you call this landline number from a mobile it says that you'll be charged. I've checked my bill, no charge.

The government was ordered to move away from using 0845 numbers for services "particularly for vulnerable and low-income groups" in December 2013. See link below. Looks like the DWP are a bit slow.

Sorry no link search BBC news 0845

See the .gov website at

Sorry no link search winter fuel payments but avoid the Northern Ireland nigov sites! Same rules different contact points.

The philosophical question about whether you'll be in hospital or jail on a date in September must complicate the calls no end. Was interesting to discover the special status of Ilford Park though.

Oh, the phone lines are clogged at the moment due to the letters going out. They took my name about 17:00 last night and promised a call back this morning. That pig is yet to fly.

WM_Harry

No phone call. Rang em back. Got told it's all automatic so no need to register and to let them know in December if it does not turn up.

What's the point of the letter?? to keep us informed.

alanq

WM_Harry wrote: »

Got told it's all automatic so no need to register and to let them know in December if it does not turn up.

What's the point of the letter?? to keep us informed.

I have just received a letter. It said that if I was receiving a state pension or other social security benefit "You do not need to do anything else as the payment should be made automatically. If you think you will not qualify for an automatic payment and you would like to make a claim the easiest way to do this is by phone."

alanq

WM_Harry wrote: »

Applying by phone seems to be the way to do it but avoid the 0845 number given in the letter.

The website gives an alternate landline number 0191 218 7777 that seems to work.

The web site gives "Telephone from outside the UK: +44 (0)191 218 7777" so they are not offering the option for UK callers. Of course the dodge of using the international number usually works but it could route you to the wrong team. Also the 0845 number could be routed to a number of different offices and therefore answered more quickly than one to the 0191 number - at a price!

https://www.gov.uk/winter-fuel-payment/how-to-claim

I got ticked off by HMRC for using the dodge. I was challenging my tax code. The person I spoke to agreed to handle my call "just this once" but instructed me not to do it again. They then completely misinterpreted the information that I had given them thus raising instead of lowering my tax bill so I had to start the process over again. I now have 0845 calls included in my phone package so I always use the 0845 numbers given. I agree it is very wrong for DWP to still be using 0845 numbers while the Government berates those GPs who are doing the same.

Update: (March 2014) DWP to introduce 0345 numbers as alternatives to 0845 "by the end of the year".
https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/287583/Touchbase_Mar14.pdf

castle96

"Was interesting to discover the special status of Ilford Park though. "

WMHarry. What is the reference to Ilford Park ? I was born in Ilford.

Have applied 2 x on line for my WFP and received nothing. Seems ot phone is best then ?

Bollotom

Isn't it a service home for Polish folks. Perhaps they don't get things, or even they may get things others don't. It does seem strange that it's singled out. Do the residents of Chelsea hospital, for instance get the WFP? Looks like it might be in Devon, not Ilford.