State Pension.

Charlies_Aunt

My aunt was 66 yesterday. She was receiving ESA & DLA. She knows that her ESA will stop when SP begins. She hasn’t received any communication from DWP about dates. Her ESA was paid yesterday, but it was one day less (£12). Does that mean she won’t get any more money until her pension, which I believe will be paid in 4 weeks in arrears. 

She has tried to call but has been held in a queue for so long without getting to talk to someone. She is concerned as she has DD’s due to come out of her bank before she expects her SP. Is it right what she has found out about benefit payments? What can she do to cover her bills while she waits for money, do they make allowances. 

Thank you!

anmarj

If she has claimed her SP and it was processed, she would of had a letter telling her about when to expect first payment, not always four weeks as it has to get into a payment cycle.  If she has not claimed her SP, then she needs to make that claim, before any money will be paid.  There is an option to be paid weekly instead of four weekly, but she will need to tell them that when she claims.   Your aunt would have recevied a letter from DWP about four months ago, advising her to make her claim.

squirrelpie

anmarj said:

There is an option to be paid weekly instead of four weekly, but she will need to tell them that when she claims.

I believe that is correct but the only way she can tell them is to phone them to claim and specifically tell them. They will not ask and it is not possible to do online. That's my understanding anyway and telephone worked for me and my wife.