State Pension Invitation Application

Jack_Itin

O.k.....Today I have received the letter inviting me to apply for the state pension, and have duly filled in the said application online.....I know someone who did the same, and then never heard anymore from DWP, it was only by chance that he rang them about something else that actually started the ball rolling.....the thing is, can I check that DWP has actually received my application ?....if so, how?........Jack.

greenglide

No, I don't think you can.

I assume you received a confirmation email of you application?

If you have applied well in advance they do not normally do anything about the application until a few weeks before you SPa date.

So just needs patience and keeping you fingers crossed!

The design of the online application process leaves a lot to be desired but DWP have never taken it paticularly seriously and government never provides the money to properly develop these things.

Jack_Itin

That's the thing.....no confirmation e-mail......the guy I refer to did the same, and then waited, and waited, and......when he eventually rang DWP they denied ever receiving his application......it all just seems rather sloppy........Jack

le_loup

We've all heard stories of someone where something goes wrong. There are about 500,000 people who start drawing their pension each year - why do you think yours is going to go wrong?

Jack_Itin

I don't.....but some sort of confirmation would surely be possible.......I have waited long enough for it !!

xylophone

Just a thought - did you want to receive your pension weekly?

You would need to make a specific request if so - it's not routinely offered.

Jack_Itin

Thanks for the thought......I did consider having it paid weekly, but have gone for the monthly option.....the only thing that the application form tells you, is that you "will hear from DWP nearer the first payment date".......I think a 'phone call to them in a couple of weeks to check the situation will be in order.......Jack.

p00hsticks

You should get a follow up letter prior to your state retirement date notifying you of how much you will be paid and when.

Jack_Itin

Thanks for that......yes, assuming that they have actually received my application.....if not then presumably they would assume that I wished to defer.......that's why some sort of acknowledgement would be useful........Jack.

Katykat

I came on here to post a new thread but now I’ve read this I hope you don’t mind me joining in. My husband rang DWP today to check that they have received his application ( I did the same 12 months ago.) They have received it but he didn’t get a confirmation email. He also asked for his pension to be paid weekly, as I did, but he got a completely different reaction than I did. He was told, firstly, that a weekly payment wasn’t an option. He told the guy that I got mine weekly and he was told that “ it’s the law” that dictates a 4 weekly payment. OH reiterated that I get mine weekly to which he was told “ only if it would cause considerable hardship could he get it weekly. OH replied that it WOULD cause hardship, so the guy reluctantly authorised it. He said it’s been law since 2010. Well, I wasn’t told that last year and frankly I don’t think I believe it. Is this really the law or was the guy just trying it on?

Jack_Itin

Please feel free to join in......it looks like there is no confirmation e-mail then, so I will be making that 'phone call in a couple of weeks......from what I can gather, you CAN get your pension weekly, although DWP would prefer everyone to have it paid monthly.........Jack.