Invitation Code for new State Pension Claim

Swanseajack

Hi, anyone else having trouble trying to obtain an Invitation Code to initiate a claim for State Pension? As advised to do so by the Pension Service, and being within 3 months of her due date, my partner went online, only to see a repeated message that the service was not working: 'Sorry, there is a problem with the service, please try again later.' This same message has been flagging up for over a week now. She called up today on the Pension Service line to find out how to claim when she couldn't get a code to do so online, but it's proved impossible to get through - still holding after 1.5 hours! Anybody had any luck via a different method of contact? Cheers.  

FrugaiMacDugal

Maybe this will help.

p00hsticks

FrugaiMacDugal said:

Maybe this will help.

I don't think it will, as you first need an invitation code to apply. You get one either via a letter from DWP or by requesting one online, and it appears that the OP hasn't received the former and is unable to request the latter. 

DRS1

OP How far does she get?  

Here?
What is your name?

I post that in case the message is on the first page.

squirrelpie

p00hsticks said:

FrugaiMacDugal said:

Maybe this will help.

I don't think it will, as you first need an invitation code to apply. You get one either via a letter from DWP or by requesting one online, and it appears that the OP hasn't received the former and is unable to request the latter. 

Err, did you read the bit where it says "If you have not received an invitation letter but you are within 3 months of reaching your State Pension age, you can request an invitation code." And the underlined bit is what is needed. DRS1 has provided a direct link to the relevant form. It seems to work for me.

FrugaiMacDugal

p00hsticks said:

FrugaiMacDugal said:

Maybe this will help.

I don't think it will, as you first need an invitation code to apply. You get one either via a letter from DWP or by requesting one online, and it appears that the OP hasn't received the former and is unable to request the latter. 

Did you click Apply now, and answer the prompts until it gets to:

Do you have your invitation code?

Yes, I have my invitation code

You can find this on your Get your State Pension letter

No, I do not have my invitation code

You can ask us to send an invitation code to your home address

Request an invitation code.

To protect you from fraud we need to send an invitation code by post to your home address.

You can request a code if you:

• will reach State Pension age in the next 3 months
• have not received your code or have lost it

You should receive your invitation code within 5 days of requesting it. You can then return to GOV.UK to get your State Pension.

It then asks for details.

ClashCityRocker1

I never got invitation code so one month from birthday rang them up and did it all over phone (including requested weekly payments that you can't do through normal process)

Swanseajack

Hi, thanks for all the helpful suggestions and advice. Yes, my partner has completed all the questions (there's not many) after being prompted to apply for an Invitation Code. She gets right to the end and the details come up to confirm her answers of name, address, dob, and then when she confirms the personal info to be correct, that's when the error message kicks in, as per my first post...

Swanseajack

This is the message:

"Sorry, there is a problem with the service

Try again later.

We have not saved your answers. When the service is available, you will have to start again.

If you need to claim your State Pension urgently

If you cannot wait to try again later, you can claim your State Pension by phone.

State Pension new claims

• Telephone: 0800 731 7898
• Textphone: 0800 731 7339

Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm (closed on public holidays)"

DRS1

Sounds like a call is the only alternative.  The advice for calling HMRC (which may be equally true for this) is call as close to 8 AM as you can.

Swanseajack

Thanks, it sure is frustrating trying to get through to them. It's extra difficult if you have to be at work early. I think my partner will have to wait for a couple more weeks when she has another day off, and try calling them first thing in the morning. Thanks for the tip, worth a try.