How long it takes the Department for Work and Pensions to give a response

CupofTea21220

I'm trying to get some answers to how long it takes the Department for Work and Pensions to give a response to State Pension entitlement for my late Mother.

They sent a letter to me the 19 May 2022 and it says don't ring them, I rang them in July this year as it's been over two years.

And still no response.

Has anyone got any idea how long they take?

Dazed_and_C0nfused

Is this connected to the underpayment of State Pension issue that Steve Webb has been highlighting?

CupofTea21220

I think so, yes it is the issue that Steve Webb has been highlighting

Dazed_and_C0nfused

You can find the latest information here,

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/dwp-annual-report-and-accounts-2023-to-2024/dwp-annual-report-and-accounts-2023-to-2024-html

Search for State Pension Underpayment LEAP exercise.  It doesn't mention it there but I seem to recollect existing deceased cases were at the bottom of DWP's priorities.

Which is understandable I guess, if your mother was alive you'd hope she was prioritised over the executors of someone who died some time ago.

NAO commented on deceased cases here,

https://www.nao.org.uk/press-releases/investigation-into-underpayment-of-state-pension

CupofTea21220

I appreciate your help, I have read the first link information before the second link is helpful, thank you.

I of course understand that people alive should be prioritised, but it is two years, simply unbelievable.

I was really hoping to have someone reply who knew when these payments would be finished being paid, I mean could it be ten years from now if they only have a few people working part time on them.

The government information does not state when they will be finished, and I would have thought they could at least estimate this.

I note this bit in the NAO report . . . The Department may find it particularly difficult to correct underpayments of pensioners who have died.

My mother died in 2017, but they did say that I should apply for her at the time, and quite honestly my Mother would have wanted me to apply for her.

I guess this may mean that even though they know they may not have records after four years (which I can hardly believe in this day and age of computer storage) they can use this as a excuse.

I have I think most of my mothers pension slips and a great deal of her bank account details, so I could go through all this, if I knew how to work out what they are talking about. 

Again thank you for your help.

Dazed_and_C0nfused

According to the latest progress report DWP expect to complete the final category of person impacted by the end of 2024.

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/state-pension-underpayments-progress-on-cases-reviewed-to-30-september-2024/state-pension-underpayments-progress-on-cases-reviewed-to-30-september-2024

Unfortunately it doesn't make it crystal clear if this includes everyone who is deceased or not.

Providing they know you exist I don't see why they won't be able to update you in due course.  I suspect the bigger problem is deceased cases where they don't know who to contact.

CupofTea21220

I appreciate your help with this, thank you.

It just seems to me incompetence all round

Thank you