LPA - how do I get government depts to recognise it?

proformance

Hi

After a painful s12-month slog, I finally succeeded in getting LPA for my Dad for both Health and Finances.

Haven't had to use it until now. I called DWP (Winter Fuel Payments) to ask a simple question: Has my father ever received WFP before?

My eyes lit up hen the representative asked if I had LPA. I was oddly looking forward to using the LPA for the first time, in earnest. 

However, my excitement was short lived, as the representative said that the Winter Fuel Payments (I think she she said "Pension credit" in general) do not use LPA codes, and that, as far as she could see, there is no LPA registered on Pension Credit service for my father.

So with their systems not recognising the LPA, and no ability to use codes (which I what I thought it was designed for), she advised I write to Pension Credit service and provide them with all the LPA paperwork. She said there's a backlog for ~6 months to process such requests.

Do I really need to write to every government department to notify them of data that they themselves hold?

Frustration beyond belief.

Anyone have experience with this?

Thanks,
Z

Murphybear

Can’t help with the LPA but have you checked his bank statements?  If he had the winter fuel payments it would show up with his NI number followed by DWP WFP.

Unfortunately I can confirm that the Pension Credit Dept of the DWP is notoriously slow.  I applied for PC and had a phone call from them after 13 months asking for more information.  I asked why it had taken so long but she didn’t know.   Fortunately it was approved and Ingot the backlog a week later.  I have made a formal complaint but suspect it could take forever to be dealt with.  

Mands

proformance said:

Hi

After a painful s12-month slog, I finally succeeded in getting LPA for my Dad for both Health and Finances.

Haven't had to use it until now. I called DWP (Winter Fuel Payments) to ask a simple question: Has my father ever received WFP before?

My eyes lit up hen the representative asked if I had LPA. I was oddly looking forward to using the LPA for the first time, in earnest. 

However, my excitement was short lived, as the representative said that the Winter Fuel Payments (I think she she said "Pension credit" in general) do not use LPA codes, and that, as far as she could see, there is no LPA registered on Pension Credit service for my father.

So with their systems not recognising the LPA, and no ability to use codes (which I what I thought it was designed for), she advised I write to Pension Credit service and provide them with all the LPA paperwork. She said there's a backlog for ~6 months to process such requests.

Do I really need to write to every government department to notify them of data that they themselves hold?

Frustration beyond belief.

Anyone have experience with this?

Thanks,
Z

Yep. Some parts of DWP will accept the online codes, others won't. And there seems to be no rhyme or reason which do and which don't. 

The good news is I've seen no evidence of a 6 month wait and even if they do use the online service that still takes several weeks so you aren't looking at a 6 month vs 1 day difference. 

The better news is that DWP were, for me, the hardest organisation to deal with so once you've done this you probably won't find the rest as troublesome. 

Best of luck with everything,
M

p00hsticks

proformance said:

Haven't had to use it until now. I called DWP (Winter Fuel Payments) to ask a simple question: Has my father ever received WFP before?

I can't help with the PoA question I'm afraid (other than I think the term used by DWP is to get registered as someone's 'Appointee' ) but I'd be interested to know why you feel that is a question worth asking ? If they told you that yes,  he had received it in previous years, how would it be helpful to you ? 

proformance

p00hsticks said:

proformance said:

Haven't had to use it until now. I called DWP (Winter Fuel Payments) to ask a simple question: Has my father ever received WFP before?

I can't help with the PoA question I'm afraid (other than I think the term used by DWP is to get registered as someone's 'Appointee' ) but I'd be interested to know why you feel that is a question worth asking ? If they told you that yes,  he had received it in previous years, how would it be helpful to you ? 

Past payments are the only way they recommended of determining whether he's registered, and thus due to receive the impending payments (by the end of Jan, allegedly).

It would also be good to know if he did receive them previously, or not.

Spoonie_Turtle

That won't really help because if he was claiming state pension then he would have got them automatically.  If not but still qualified due to age, he would have needed to actively claim them.

This year is different because you have to be in receipt of a means-tested benefit to qualify.

https://www.gov.uk/winter-fuel-payment/eligibility

8dayweek

Easiest way to get the LPA recognised is take it to the local Jobcentre. They’ll take your details and your Father’s details, scan the LPA and forward it to the Pension Service to get it all logged. 

proformance

Spoonie_Turtle said:

That won't really help because if he was claiming state pension then he would have got them automatically.  If not but still qualified due to age, he would have needed to actively claim them.

This year is different because you have to be in receipt of a means-tested benefit to qualify.

https://www.gov.uk/winter-fuel-payment/eligibility

You're right.

Turns out he was eligible and receiving the WFPs historically, however, despite receiving Pension Credit, there was an error in their system which meant he was ineligible for this year's payout.

DWP (WFP) has now corrected this and he should receive this year's payment this month. Lucky we contacted them I suppose.

I urge anyone to also double-check for themselves or on behalf of their loved ones.

proformance

8dayweek said:

Easiest way to get the LPA recognised is take it to the local Jobcentre. They’ll take your details and your Father’s details, scan the LPA and forward it to the Pension Service to get it all logged. 

Grat tip! Thank you.

Do I need to generate any codes or the like, before visiting? 

8dayweek

I’ve never taken any codes etc. We copy it, stamp it, two staff members sign / date it and then forward it to the relevant Pension Centre etc.  

To be honest, I have always assumed that anyone popping in with the physical LPA certificate was because it couldn’t be “auto-verified” via a code etc - hence they’d been told quickest alternative way to verify is to pop it in. 

(Sounds vague, but Pension Service / PIP etc wouldn’t give us any heads up that someone was coming down - whereas when you’re dealing with working-age benefits there’s more face to face Jobcentre contact so it’s picked up on a more “business as usual” basis). 

proformance

8dayweek said:

I’ve never taken any codes etc. We copy it, stamp it, two staff members sign / date it and then forward it to the relevant Pension Centre etc.  

To be honest, I have always assumed that anyone popping in with the physical LPA certificate was because it couldn’t be “auto-verified” via a code etc - hence they’d been told quickest alternative way to verify is to pop it in. 

(Sounds vague, but Pension Service / PIP etc wouldn’t give us any heads up that someone was coming down - whereas when you’re dealing with working-age benefits there’s more face to face Jobcentre contact so it’s picked up on a more “business as usual” basis). 

Thanks for your very helpful response!

My next question: given you mentioned "copying" it, I assume I'll need to login into LPA service and print the original for my JCP visit, right?

Does my Dad (whom I'm acting on behalf of) need to be there? Given the LPA is already done, I would've assumed not (such is the point of it anyway!), but it's worth checking I suppose.