State Pension due in a few days - not heard from DWP

Blue_Parrot

When telephoned today, the DWP have claimed at 11.30 am and again at 3.30 pm, that their computers are down (and that therefore they are unable to look into this).

Call me cynical, but I find this very hard to believe. The DWP website is up and running as normal (they have published thirteen separate announcements today alone), there is nothing about their computers not working (that I could see) anywhere on their own website nor elsewhere on the internet.

How many people are in receipt of pensions, allowances and other benefits? Millions. Therefore, millions of people are similarly "inconvenienced"?

greenglide

DWP are not going to lie about this - they can hardly tell all of their staff "tell people that our computers are down because Blue Parrot is going to call".

They have hundreds of computer systems, in the case of issues with one doesnt stop publishing data on their web site - this is probably outsourced anyway.

The impact on the public will tend to be limited to those who ring up during the outage such as you. The millions who do not ring will not be impacted, the back end systems will still pay them as usual.

Which, of course, doesnt explained what has happened to your payment.

Blue_Parrot

I agree up to a point, greenglide. But this assumes that the back-end is paying people as usual.

My theory/surmise is that they "only" have a problem with "new cases" and fulfilling what DWP sets out in its letters. Presumably that's another part of the DWP (sending out letters): not the actual part which fulfills the commitment to pay.

They're now nine days late with the preliminary part-payment. In less than two weeks the full, regular, payment should start (1st August). It stands to reason that this is not the only "case", surely?

anmarj

Blue_Parrot wrote: »

When telephoned today, the DWP have claimed at 11.30 am and again at 3.30 pm, that their computers are down (and that therefore they are unable to look into this).

Call me cynical, but I find this very hard to believe. The DWP website is up and running as normal (they have published thirteen separate announcements today alone), there is nothing about their computers not working (that I could see) anywhere on their own website nor elsewhere on the internet.

How many people are in receipt of pensions, allowances and other benefits? Millions. Therefore, millions of people are similarly "inconvenienced"?

I have sat today for best part of the day along with my colleagues waiting to get on and do some work, but as the system is not working that has been impossible to do. the external web site will be totally different to the internal systems which is why the would of been able to update them.

Blue_Parrot

anmarj wrote: »

I have sat today for best part of the day along with my colleagues waiting to get on and do some work, but as the system is not working that has been impossible to do. the external web site will be totally different to the internal systems which is why the would of been able to update them.

anmarj works at the DWP?

xylophone

I think (ginfers crossed) that they've made a mistake.

Somebody with crossed ginfers at the DWP?:)

xylophone

anmarj works at the DWP?

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/70843329#Comment_70843329

The emoticon at post 9 could be a hint?

But if she is there, her time there could be limited.... post 3:eek:

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/70869635#Comment_70869635

I have worked for the civil service for 10+ and I have been overlooked for promtion etc. I have had it confirmed via phone call ( which was recorded) that I am too valuable as a processor to be considered for anything else, they occasionally give me things, which in essence is to stop me complainling, upshot, now looking for job outside! and waiting for the day I hand in my notice and wait for the fireworks, as so many people have left and they are really short on experienced workers, sorry processors.

Blue_Parrot

The DWP were phoned four times today before finally getting through to a human being.

He said that the payment due on July 4th was "set up" but no one had actually activated it. He said he had then "forced it through" and it would take 3-5 business days to arrive.

During that conversation it was pointed out to him/DWP that the K-code has arrived from HMRC and therefore tax will be taken on that pension payment, on the next payday (21st) whether the first pension payment has arrived or not.

Nothing would have happened on this, had not I been so persistent in chasing them up.

greenglide

It seems very odd that but at least you should get the payment now. The notification to HMRC should only come out when the pension is actually in payment so something must have been done to stop it. The tax situation will sort itself out by itself.

Apparently there was a major Desktop outage for most of the day yesterday so no one would have been able to anything other than their local PC.

Isn't IT a wonderful thing!

xylophone

but no one had actually activated it.

Forgetful "ginfers" at the DWP!:o

At least you've sorted it out and all should go smoothly now....