DWP timescales

kevinamanda1

Thanks for your post.My mum died in April,so I've been expecting a letter but still nothing,and as I wrote in previous posts the DWP are not making a priority.But surely I would heard something by now if they're going too want the money back. 

BooJewels

As I posted up-thread, my father was underpaid his state pension by about 10 days (he passed in April).  I rang them in September about it and they said it had been overlooked (in error) and the chap I spoke to 'raised a case' for it to be looked at, stating that he was owed 2 weeks pension. 

Although I had power of attorney for dealing with his pension whilst alive, my sister did the 'Tell Us Once' paperwork, so they were happy to talk to me initially, as I passed their security, but then couldn't deal with me further.  They said my sister would hear something in 3-4 weeks and 7 weeks later, she got a form to fill in about being executor and asking for the estate bank account details.  That's gone back about a week or so ago, so we're hoping to just get a payment through at some point, when that's processed.

So it's certainly taking them a while to deal with these issues - it's about 7 months since we used the Tell Us Once service.  I suspect, if I hadn't chased them in September, we'd still be waiting for any form of contact.

poppystar

I didn’t use the Tell us Once service this time and contacted the state pension people direct. They confirmed an underpayment and sent a cheque as soon as I provided the death certificate and bank details. Death was June, cheque arrived July. This was just state pension, no other benefits were involved.

BooJewels

We're beginning to wish that we hadn't either @poppystar - it seems to have caused more trouble than it saved, in the end.  In that it seemed to be very efficient in some respects, a total failure in others.  That's why, when it became evident there were gaps, I did start chasing outstanding matters manually, despite phone recordings saying things like 'if you used the TUO service, you don't need to contact us'.  

GSS20

Mum died beginning July I used tell us once but heard nothing so I called to see if they had been informed as the DWP contacted me really quickly when my father died for repayment of pension. They said that the only thing owing was the week’s pension but it was possible it would be written off due to covid. As mum had pension credit I need DWP clearance that they are not interested in the estate as due to house sale and lack of spending it is a large estate for a means tested benefit. I heard of DWP being in touch with executors of wills who have died after mum and the estate is just waiting to be distributed. I wish they would get in touch either way so I can get closure.

Savvy_Sue

hb2 said:

It was 6 months after my Mum died that I got a letter from DWP saying there had been an overpayment (as it happened, there hadn't been any overpayment, the registrar had put the wrong date on 'Tell us once').

I think about the same for us and Dad too. And in that case, there HAD been an overpayment, which I had flagged to them at the time of death, and they said there wasn't. I didn't believe them and was expecting the letter!

badger09

kevinamanda1 said:

Thanks for your post.My mum died in April,so I've been expecting a letter but still nothing,and as I wrote in previous posts the DWP are not making a priority.But surely I would heard something by now if they're going too want the money back. 

It took me over 3 months back in 2018 to get DWP to tell me how much state retirement pension they had overpaid my late sister, though I had a good idea! And that was obviously in normal non COVID times.

If you are executor/administrator, I suggest you try to phone them. In 2018 general number was 0800 731 0469 (option 2) ask to speak to Bereavement Team. They will take details and then notify relevant team who calculate the overpayment which is then passed to their Debt Management Service!. It took me 3 phone calls I think but I did get it sorted.

Good luck