Delays to State Pension for Newbies

hlane1

I would like to bring to your attention that it is currently taking the pension service 8 to 10 weeks to process new claims.
I am eight weeks in to my new claim and eventually got through to speak to an advisor, three attempts and over 40 minutes on hold, to be told of the long delay to set up payments. The website is still advising 6 to 8 weeks !!

molerat

Several threads on the subject already. It is not affecting all claims, seems to be pot luck.

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6275371/state-pension-claim-waiting-5-months#latest

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6289382/pension-over-due#latest

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6290001/late-state-pension#latest

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6291506/first-payment-of-state-pension-not-received#latest

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6287775/the-day-after-my-state-pension-qualifying-age-nothing-heard-from-the-dwp#latest

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6292387/first-state-pension-payment#latest

Listlad

hlane1 said:

I would like to bring to your attention that it is currently taking the pension service 8 to 10 weeks to process new claims.
I am eight weeks in to my new claim and eventually got through to speak to an advisor, three attempts and over 40 minutes on hold, to be told of the long delay to set up payments. The website is still advising 6 to 8 weeks !!

Hi. I am also being affected by this and find the same as you. I have just written to my MP on this. My first payment is overdue and I have heard nothing. Phone calls to the DWP take up to an hour at a time. Once through they say they will escalate the concern and claim and state that I should receive a phone call. But I have had no letters, emails, texts or phone calls on this, what so ever. My initial claim went in on 11th April

When was your 66th birthday?

I haven’t seen that yet on their website, about the delay. Where did you see that?

xylophone

Write to your MP and copy your letter to the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions.

https://www.gov.uk/government/ministers/secretary-of-state-for-work-and-pensions#:~:text=Current role holder-,The Rt Hon Thérèse Coffey MP,Pensions on 8 September 2019.

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/78594718/#Comment_78594718

I have contacted my MP now. He has a copy of the letter of complaint that I sent them. Hopefully this will work. 
It’s disgraceful that our payments should be delayed. It’s disgraceful that the DWP are effectively not contactable and it’s disgraceful that they do not contact new pensioners if there are any snags on either parties part. At 66 or thereabouts we become more vulnerable in society and what is supposed to provide us with help in our later years is only giving us stress and worry.

Listlad

And in Scotland too.

https://www.scotsman.com/news/politics/scottish-pensioners-missing-payments-as-uk-government-prepares-to-scrap-triple-lock-3370904

Farside71

Pains me to say, this is probably what the new service level will be.  So many companies struggling to regain their levels of service from a year or two ago.   This sounds like the next 'crisis' of which there are an increasing number.

xylophone

So many companies struggling to regain their levels of service from a year or two ago. 

Here's a revolutionary idea.

 They should require their staff to return to the office and do the work for which they are being paid.

noh

It's just pot luck as stated by a previous poster.
I received my invitation to apply a few weeks back, applied online the same day and received the letter with dates and amounts of payments within the next 7 days.

ex-pat_scot

xylophone said:

So many companies struggling to regain their levels of service from a year or two ago. 

Here's a revolutionary idea.

 They should require their staff to return to the office and do the work for which they are being paid.

i dont see why they need to be in the office/ Indeed it might be risky if someone infects the team.

Frankly they should be able to accurately forecast the volumes of people approaching pension age, and set up responses to queries, request for pension, payments etc with the right level of staffing.
I don't see why such poor service can occur, with such predictable demand.

Listlad

ex-pat_scot said:

xylophone said:

So many companies struggling to regain their levels of service from a year or two ago. 

Here's a revolutionary idea.

 They should require their staff to return to the office and do the work for which they are being paid.

i dont see why they need to be in the office/ Indeed it might be risky if someone infects the team.

Frankly they should be able to accurately forecast the volumes of people approaching pension age, and set up responses to queries, request for pension, payments etc with the right level of staffing.
I don't see why such poor service can occur, with such predictable demand.

Indeed. Now you mention it, it is all extremely predictable. 

Also I work from home and get a lot of work done ( though I am not sure how long I will remain employed for).

Vegastare

I applied online after reading the horrors on here, I had the letter weeks before with the log code (whatever it is) and thought I would apply about 6 weeks before.  I quickly applied on line using the given code and 5 working days later got the amount and dates of first part payment and the following monthly date.
So I would apply online and as soon as you get the letter.  Within in minutes of online applying you get an email confirming your application.  
I do realize some applications might be more complex - but maybe they should ask you to apply quickly etc as nothing on my letter implied the delay.

As for working from home - I was able to do this - what with my work mobile and laptop, it was great - no making a drink for everyone else when I felt like one, no unwanted office chatter and no getting embroiled in others issues.  I used to get through things so much faster.  Only one day a week but did it make the work load easier.