Impossible to contact the DWP??

molerat

eskbanker said:

alfonso said:
I was a tad confused advising people to take out loans in order to meet the shortfalls. Would that debt not be passed onto the next of kin etc if they passed before getting the benefit?

I didn't see the show so can't comment on the context of such a remark, but debts don't pass onto next of kin, or anybody else - they'd be settled from the estate if possible, or written off if not....

It was a very guarded yes to a question asked as you would be borrowing against a guaranteed return as opposed to borrowing for "stuff"

WYSPECIAL

molerat said:

eskbanker said:

alfonso said:
I was a tad confused advising people to take out loans in order to meet the shortfalls. Would that debt not be passed onto the next of kin etc if they passed before getting the benefit?

I didn't see the show so can't comment on the context of such a remark, but debts don't pass onto next of kin, or anybody else - they'd be settled from the estate if possible, or written off if not....

It was a very guarded yes to a question asked as you would be borrowing against a guaranteed return as opposed to borrowing for "stuff"

I don’t usually watch it either so don’t know if the style of presentation is like that every week but found it irritating. It was a very reluctant yes to a direct question and seemed to be given after much internal struggle rather than something he had planned to suggest as advice.

Downthedrain

The Future Pensions line now just disconnects - how long has it been like this?

xylophone

The Future Pensions line now just disconnects - how long has it been like this?Since Martin Lewis started talking about voluntary contributions?

[Deleted User]

Now mid April and the line STILL either gets the engaged signal and disconnects, or disconnects anyway. It is a joke that the message keeps advising you not to leave contacting them too late!

molerat

Unfortunately "too late" was after December last year.

[Deleted User]

molerat said:

Unfortunately "too late" was after December last year.

The deadline for making voluntary contributions towards pensions has been extended from April to 31st July 2023 - I just need to ensure that the contribution will increase my pension, as the online statement is contradictory. I am not sure what your "too late" comment means.

p00hsticks

[Deleted User] said:

molerat said:

Unfortunately "too late" was after December last year.

The deadline for making voluntary contributions towards pensions has been extended from April to 31st July 2023 - I just need to ensure that the contribution will increase my pension, as the online statement is contradictory. I am not sure what your "too late" comment means.

In what way is it contradictory ? 
If you post up the details here people may be able to help 

[Deleted User]

You need 35 years of NI contributions to get the full state pension.

My forecast states that I need to pay two more years (2021-22 and 2022-23) to reach the full amount, but my NI record states I have 40 years of full contributions.

I need to check with Future Pensions that my Voluntary Contributions for these two years are required to get the max. Then joy-of-joys I have to phone HMRC to get the 12 digit reference code for the payment.

Gollygumdrops

@[Deleted User].  I posted another comment the other day as to just this problem.  Still no one is answering the calls in either FP nor HMRC, you either get cut off or hang on for 56 mins before the phone is answered (my experience the other day).
After being answered at 56 mins I was then told that the office were having problems with their computer system so they couldn’t help me after all.  Talk about frustration and anger.
This to me seems like a deliberate ploy (though I cannot understand why) to stop people either contacting them or increasing their pensions.  
I too commented that I am now getting concerned that the phone lines will be like this until July 2023!
Have you managed to contact them yet?  I was too busy today but may try again tomorrow.