Delays to State Pension for Newbies

xylophone

Only one day a week but did it make the work load easier.

There is a difference between one day a week (and indeed such systems were in operation for individuals long before the pandemic) and the system that appears to be in operation now.

xylophone

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

Will you make the same argument for shop staff who have worked throughout the pandemic?

Farside71

WFH is fine for motivated, experienced, skilled people who know what they are doing.

Organisations are struggling with call centre or administration functions where it is becoming difficult to keep things at a consistent level when people aren't in the office and and levels of control in the office might be high e.g. monitoring call duration etc, 

Also where attrition rates are high, its harder to get new people up to speed when that face to face contact is not there and it's difficult for new people to learn from watching others. Especially in what might be fairly technical jobs that require fairly indepth knowedge, that still pay call centre level wages.

Indeed some organisations have claimed key worker status to get workers into the office during lockdown, so it can't always be said that falling standards are due to home working. It might be a factor that has pushed stretched organisations beyond the breaking point though.

Listlad

I had this response today from the shadow DWP minister today:

Hello xxxx

Thank you very much for your email regarding delayed payment of your State Pension.

I have been very grateful for people bringing this issue to my attention. Everyone should have the security that when they retire, they will ahve the immediate support of the State Pension. I raised the problem of delayed payments directly with the Government when I was first made aware a number of weeks ago.

As you may have seen, the Government have now finally admitted that there has been a backlog caused by the pandemic and staff shortages. It is disappointing that the Government were not more proactive in getting this resolved. They must urgently process all outstanding claims and I can assure you that I will continue to chase this.

I am unable to raise individual cases with the Government from people who live outside of my constituency so I would strongly recommend contacting your local MP if you haven't already so that can make a representation to Government and chase the amount you are owed.

Thank you again for bringing this to my attention. While I am pleased we have managed to get the Government to acknowledge the problem, we will continue to monitor this until everyone has access to the State Pension they deserve. Please do get back in touch if this hasn't been resolved soon.

Best wishes
Jonathan

Pollycat

Farside71 said:

WFH is fine for motivated, experienced, skilled people who know what they are doing.

Indeed it is.
My OH worked from home for 3 days a week before he retired in 2007.
It was a massive benefit to him as it cut down a dreadful 60 mile commute on rubbish roads.
We treated it as a 'proper' working day. He started at 8am, the study door was closed, I would knock and ask if he wanted coffee around 11am and then prep lunch. He'd finish at 5pm.
One of his colleagues would often take his wife shopping when he should have been working.
It's people like this who ruin WFH for the "motivated, experienced, skilled people" who take it seriously.

Headscratcher14

From the above, it seems as if those who can and are willing to use the Internet to apply have more chance of gettting their pensions.  This is clearly discriminating against those without internet availabilty.

I am aware of someone who first contacted DWP in March, had his birthday in July, and has not been paid a penny yet.  It took him many phone calls (each with long waits for connections), verbal promises to him were broken, and written recorded delivery complaints are unanswered months later.  He has finally got sent a claim form, and returned it but has no idea when he'll get any money.

I think this is disgusting.

Although he is not in real hardship, many new pensioners probably are.  What recourse do they have if they are not internet savvy or confident enough to contact an MP or other agencies for help?

I think the DWP should be made to pay substantial damages to these people for the delays, and face a serious enquiry into this fiasco.  The "staffing issues/Covid" excuses simply don't wash when other organisations are able to do far better, when facing the same problems.

xylophone

I think the DWP should be made to pay substantial damages to these people for the delays, 

I don't know about substantial damages but certainly interest ......

https://www.gov.uk/make-court-claim-for-money/work-out-interest

and face a serious enquiry into this fiasco.  The "staffing issues/Covid" excuses simply don't wash when other organisations are able to do far better, when facing the same problems.

I couldn't agree more (but I'd include "independent" after "serious").

molerat

So "end of October" didn't happen then !

https://www.theyworkforyou.com/wrans/?id=2021-10-15.56951.h

https://www.pensionsage.com/pa/State-pension-delays-gone-November-claims-Opperman.php

xylophone

So "end of October" didn't happen then !

Are you surprised?

SusieT

molerat said:

So "end of October" didn't happen then !

https://www.theyworkforyou.com/wrans/?id=2021-10-15.56951.h

https://www.pensionsage.com/pa/State-pension-delays-gone-November-claims-Opperman.php

Did they specify that it was October this year, or did someone make a typo and it should have been 2022