Dwp incompetence

Birleyfold

HELP?
My 83 year old mother past away 11 months ago. I informed the DWP the next day. The executor of my mother estate is a solicitor. After 10 months of waiting the DWP have now requested details of my mothers savings and bank accounts going back to 2007. I have called 4 departments of the DWP to get to the bottom of the delay and very late request, as the executor will not give me any details - the last one DWP Dept Management refuse to talk to me unless the executor gives permission, which they have not.


How long are the DWP allowed to drag things out - the DWP web site says they deal with things within 15 days - its been on for 11 months -there must be a time limit.


I tried to complain - but guess what they said it had to be in writing. I explained that the web site said phone in! No must be in writing - even then they said they would not discuss the matter as I did not have the permission of the Executor, so if I wrote in they would not register the complaint. I asked to speak to a manager - none available, asked for a call back - they did not call - totally pathetic service.


My question - how can I make an effective complaint against this bungling bureaucrats?


any help much appreciated.

Mojisola

Birleyfold wrote: »

My question - how can I make an effective complaint against this bungling bureaucrats?

I'd be starting with the executor - make a complaint to the firm about their inaction.

Why are you expecting the DWP to talk to you when you have no official position regarding the estate?

Shelldean

When was probate granted?
Dwp often get in touch when probate is granted and the figures on probate do not match those held by dwp.
If your mother was claiming pension credit and claimed at certain time/amount She would've declared her savings, at point of claiming and.then.due to the rules didn't have to declare any extra.savings.
But she was able.to save and increase her savings. So when.probate was done there was a difference in the figures.


Haven't explained this very well but hope you understand.

Birleyfold

Yes I have complained.


3 departments of the DWP did speak to me - so I expected the 4th to as well.


My point is 11 months to ask more questions???

RAS

No - how many months since probate was granted?

Until they see the numbers on the probate form, they do not know if they need to ask more questions.

Keep_pedalling

The usual thing that triggers, this sort sort of enquirer is probate making the deceased persons estatate public, and the the fact that they were in receipt of means tested benefits such as pension credit.

Although I understand your frustration, the fact is the DWP cannot know that there has possibly been a fraudulent benefit claim until the estate becomes public, and they will only deal with the executor as they are the people who represent the estate.

Newly_retired

Sorry, but this could take much longer to resolve than you might hope.
DH as executor of his mother's estate, was subject to well over a year of letters from DWP, requests for bank statements going back nine years ( unobtainable of course), suspicion, asking for the same information three times even though over the phone they admitted that they had received it.
Eventually it was all resolved, and they agreed that nothing was owed.
You just have to be patient.
Sorry, not what you wanted to hear, but this is quite common.