New State Pension query

Hitchfinder

Hello all.

I've recently endured a roundabout of calls to the various pension phone numbers, and usually end up back where I started! And, none the wiser.

Apologies, for rambling of this post. A tortuous home move and subsequent reorganisation of communications has been in the way.

I've found that people here are often more clued up on certain issues. I've recently celebrated getting to my state pension age, hurrah, and accessed my forecast on their website. All very efficient, I thought. The forecast (in January) was way before the Sunak uplift. I had this by letter.

Then, in April, after the 3.1% was confirmed, I downloaded (and printed off, thank heaven) the official DWP forecast, from gov.uk.

This shows a modest increase commensurate with 3.1%. Then, my interim payment arrived, with no uplift! One query I made said that the January figure had the uplift magically applied, even though it was in no way official at that time.

A very helpful DWP agent subsequently suggested (via a rare phone query) that she would write to the relevant department, as she was aware of this happening to another caller, and was a mistake in applying my NI history.

I have read today of so many people underpaid due to 'human error' or outdated systems. I'm about to begin another check and a round of calls. As we've all no doubt found, one has to set aside a free few hours, drinks to hand, and avoid interruptions. 

I might need to add - a heavy bout of Covid earlier this year occasionally impacts on my physical resources, and I limit long phone calls when possible.

If anyone has reached end of this screed, thanks! Any thoughts of similar experiences, I would love to hear from you.

xylophone

What exactly did your January forecast say?

And the post 6 April forecast?

And when did you reach SPA?

Hitchfinder

Hi, thanks for getting back.

The January forecast acknowledged my application, and stated my payment expectations - an interim week, to be followed (in June) with the rest. It stated my yearly amount, which I'm sure was the same as weeks before.

I reached SPA mid May. Having heard the 3.1% announcement, I took the new forecast directly from gov.uk, at the end of April, showing all amounts lifted by 3.1%, adding around £6 per week. This page I printed off.

I should add that the DWP agent seemed aware that this had happened to another caller, and was writing to another department - her best option, she said. 
I was hopeful, but have not heard back- hence my plan to begin another marathon phone session. My completion payment is due in a fortnight, or so, and I was hopeful of having it acknowledged by then.

My real problem with the anomaly, is that the uplift amount was in no way finalised by January, when I received my official forecast.

And then, the similarly official gov.uk forecast page (late April) properly factored in the rise. Surely, this would be the expected timescale!

xylophone

When you say state pension forecast, (January) you don't mean this

https://www.which.co.uk/money/pensions-and-retirement/state-pension/your-state-pension-forecast-explained-a24r12y9jt41

but rather the letter you received from DWP in response to your claiming your state pension?

What exactly did the letter say?

With regard to

Then, in April, after the 3.1% was confirmed, I downloaded (and printed off, thank heaven) the official DWP forecast, from gov.uk.

What was this and what exactly did it say?

Dazed_and_C0nfused

Perhaps you could tell us the acrual amounts?

Is it possible you are getting confused between monthly (never used for State Pension) and 4 weekly payments?

Hitchfinder

Thanks for the link. That is very much the layout I saw.
It is also the layout I printed off in late April, post-Sunak announcement, with the uplifted amounts.

And, yes, the acknowledgement letter I recieved in January, after I claimed, stated the original amounts, that I needed to finish my final NI payments to reach this- which I did.

Hello, Dazed- I don't have amounts to the penny, as I'm not at home. The exact amounts aren't relevant to the error.

Re weeks versus months; all quotes and amounts are the given weekly sums. At my now great age, I'm ok with not confusing the two...🤦

Dazed_and_C0nfused

And, yes, the acknowledgement letter I recieved in January, after I claimed, stated the original amounts, that I needed to finish my final NI payments to reach this- which I did.

Could it be you are being paid the amount you had accrued with the final year increase (not the 3.1%) still to be applied?

Hitchfinder

Hi again, my turn to be confused! That might be the case, I wouldn't know.

I'm relying on getting through to DWP today or tomorrow. I'll keep copious notes, and, eventually, report back.

Just looking to see if that 3.1% is going to be added. Anytime soon...

Dazed_and_C0nfused

Hitchfinder said:

Hi again, my turn to be confused! That might be the case, I wouldn't know.

I'm relying on getting through to DWP today or tomorrow. I'll keep copious notes, and, eventually, report back.

Just looking to see if that 3.1% is going to be added. Anytime soon...

But maybe it is already being paid?

Let's say forecast without final qualifying year was say £176.01 (98% of the standard new State Pension in 2021:22).

Your double lock updated award would be £181.45.  Then when your final qualifying year is added in it will become £185.15.

But until you can post the actual figures it's a lot of guesswork really.

TadleyBaggie

Hitchfinder said:

I'm relying on getting through to DWP today or tomorrow.

That’s highly unlikely as we are into the 4 day Jubilee weekend. 

Hitchfinder

TadleyBaggie said:

Hitchfinder said:

I'm relying on getting through to DWP today or tomorrow.

That’s highly unlikely as we are into the 4 day Jubilee weekend. 

Hi there!

Well done, TB, for spotting my 'deliberate' mistake. Rest assured, I haven't been sat ringing a dead phone line. I went out to enjoy the weather.

As my current work pattern leaves Thursday and Friday free, I reserve the time for chores like this. Now we have been presented with these bank holidays, I can't get out of my routine.

I wish the DWP a nice break, and hope to resume asap next week.