State Pension - please help **Update again**

hec2308

As far as I'm aware he is only entitled to the basic state pension, my mum believes that he was self-employed for the majority of his latter career so this would make sense.

Had a response from their MP today (hooray!!) who has also now contacted the DWP on our behalf. Getting somewhere!

saver861

hec2308 wrote: »

Had a response from their MP today (hooray!!) who has also now contacted the DWP on our behalf. Getting somewhere!

Excellent. Maybe now things will pick up pace and get to the bottom of this.

I would be interested to hear what the root cause of this was, i.e. why there was no follow up etc and pension just stopped. I still can't get my head around how that can happen.

hec2308

My grandmother has just called me very, very upset saying that she has now had a letter from HMRC regarding the Late [grandad's name].

What the hell is going on????

xylophone

My grandmother has just called me very, very upset saying that she has now had a letter from HMRC regarding the Late [grandad's name].

What the hell is going on????

Wait until you yourself can read the letter, then post back for comments?

hec2308

The letter is thanking my grandmother for letting them know about my grandfather's death and for providing them with updated figures - the new P800s will follow shortly.

Alice_Holt

hec2308 wrote: »

The letter is thanking my grandmother for letting them know about my grandfather's death and for providing them with updated figures - the new P800s will follow shortly.

Another letter to your MP?

Perhaps also copy letters / emails to the relevant Secretary of State for both DWP & HMRC, and to the Chair of the relevant Select Commitee?

Re Interest outstanding on Pensions - you could try compensation for financial redress:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/compensation-for-poor-service-a-guide-for-dwp-staff
(I may have posted a link earlier in the thread).
https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/422425/financial-redress-maladministration-apr-15.pdf

Which states:

"A. Individuals should not be disadvantaged as a result of
maladministration:

• It is not necessary for an individual to request consideration of a special payment.
The appropriateness of making a payment should be routinely considered in any
attempt to rectify departmental maladministration, which may have resulted in a
customer (or a third party) experiencing injustice and/or hardship.
• The purpose of the Special Payment Scheme is, wherever possible, to return the
individual to the position they would have been in but for the maladministration. In
the event that this cannot be achieved the aim is to provide redress that is
reasonable and proportionate in light of the individual circumstances of the case"

Your Compliant letter may yield some resolution as it is generally overseen by a case manager who has reasonable discretion. If you, or your grandmother, are not satisfied with the DWP / HMRC response, you should be able to escalate it.
I am afraid the DWP is a very difficult and frustrating organisation to deal with - they appear close to the verge of organisational chaos. HMRC are extremely intransigent and tend to ignore their "customers". So do persist with your MP etc.

(By the way, there's probably not a lot that a CAB caseworker could practically add to this issue.)

xylophone

The letter is thanking my grandmother for letting them know about my grandfather's death

I'm almost ( but not quite) speechless! Talk about Mark Twain - ( if you didn't laugh you'd cry.....).

Telephone to advise that your grandfather is still very much in the land of the living.

Robust complaint in writing - copy to your grandfather's MP.

xylophone

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/complain-to-hm-revenue-and-customs

hec2308

xylophone wrote: »

I'm almost ( but not quite) speechless! Talk about Mark Twain - ( if you didn't laugh you'd cry.....).

Oh god absolutely.

xylophone wrote: »

Telephone to advise that your grandfather is still very much in the land of the living.

I have called them now. No explanation forthcoming from HMRC either but an apology from a manager!!! Huzzah!!!! Someone knows the word sorry!!!!

The manager says that they have issued another formal complaint against HMRC and we will hear from them in 48 hours. We shall see. Really this is the thing that has upset my grandmother the most. At least when we initially discovered this issue and DWP told us on the phone that he was down as "dormant/deceased" we could look over our shoulders and see him sat there on the sofa. But as he is now in hospital and has been for some time this was really a horrible shock for her. This has upset her much more than the money.

xylophone wrote: »

Robust complaint in writing - copy to your grandfather's MP.

I will certainly be doing a written complaint if I don't hear in 48 hours as promised. I have emailed the MP again, think I've officially had enough of it all.

xylophone

Someone knows the word sorry!!!

!


Mea culpa, mea culpa, mea maxima culpa?

We have left undone those things which we ought to have done; And we have done those things which we ought not to have done; And there is no health in us.