** Update 13/12/16 ** Since publishing this information, we have had a few reports that the phone numbers below do not connect or that they forward onto lines which charge. So please be aware of this. If you do use the numbers let us know via the comments below the article what you find.
Current list of DWP 0800 telephone numbers that claimants can use to call the DWP for free from a mobile.
- 0800220674 NISSA Benefit Enquiry Line for AA, DLA, Carer’s Allowance & Carer’s Credit (this number redirects to other numbers for some benefits – these might be paid numbers)
- 0800991234 Pension Credit Application Line – TPS
- 08000224250 Customer First Line
- 08000556688 JCP First Contact New Claims
- 08007314811 PDCS TPS Pension Credit
- 08007317898 PDCS TPS State Pension New Claims
- 08009172222 PIP New Claims Service Line
[Thanks to @Imajsaclaimant for checking these numbers]
List of abbreviations:
- TPS The Pension Service
- PDCS Pensions, Disability &Carers Service
- MOPR Method of Payment Reform
RESIST SANCTIONS!
- If they make a sanction referral against you, act immediately
- Submit a written statement about why you should not be sanctioned
- Insist on a meeting with the manager of the Jobcentre (or the workfare provider) to argue the sanction referral be withdrawn
- If the sanction referral is clearly unjustified, make an official complaint.
- Claim Hardship Payments from the Jobcentre
- Inform Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit so these benefits continue
- If your sanction is confirmed ask for a written statement of reasons
- Write to ask for a mandatory reconsideration of the decision by the DWP
- If this fails, appeal against the decision to an independent tribunal
- Seek solidarity from us and others – consider a demo at the Jobcentre or workfare provider if they are not listening to you
LET’S ACT TOGETHER AND MAKE SANCTIONS UNWORKABLE
WAITED AGES TO GET HOUSING BENEFIT?
Don’t put up with it. If your claim hasn’t been sorted out two weeks after you have given all the information needed, then the Council are legally obliged to make you regular interim payments of Housing Benefit.
This applies to private tenants and housing association tenants. For Council tenants, where the Council are paying the Housing Benefit direct to their own Housing Department, the Council are legally obliged to pay Housing Benefit within 14 days, or if that is not reasonably practicable, as soon as possible after that. An interim payment is a temporary payment of Housing Benefit which is paid regularly, like normal Housing Benefit, until they work out your claim. The law says the council must pay you an amount which it considers reasonable. (An interim payment is sometimes also called a “payment on account”.)
WHAT TO DO?
How do you get an interim payment?
- Make sure that you have given the Council all the info necessary for them to sort out your claim. It may help to speed things up if you submit a letter requesting an interim payment with your original housing benefit claim form. But if you have not done that don’t worry.
- Check that 2 weeks have passed since you gave the Council all the info they needed.
- Ring them up, and tell them that by law they have to either sort out your claim immediately, or make you an interim payment immediately. The Housing Benefit Regulations 2006, in particular Regulation 93(1), says they must do this.
Interim payments are NOT discretionary. According to the law they must be paid if the circumstances described in 1) and 2) apply.
- If they still won’t pay, say you will make a complaint to the ombudsman about Council maladministration unless they pay you. (You can do this by contacting the local government ombudsman 0300 061 0614 PO BOX 4771 Coventry CV4 0EH email www.lgo.org.uk/make-a-complaint/fact-sheetts-/benefits-and-tax .The ombudsman has the power to make a recommendation that compensation be paid in cases where there has been maladministration.
- If they still won’t budge you can demand a meeting with the manager, to which you should go with a friend/adviser to insist that you are paid. If they refuse to give you an appointment ask for the supervisor/manager and insist on your right to an appointment. If they are still being unreasonable you could ring the Housing Benefit Performance Manager to ask for an appointment
- If can also be useful to contact councillors who have the ultimate responsibility for Housing Benefit. The councillor responsible for Housing Benefit is the convenor of the Finance and Resources Committee. You could also contact your local councillor, ring the Council Info Centre to find out who they are.
- Getting your MP or MSP to write on your behalf can also be useful, this generally results in your case being “escalated” and looked at by a more senior official.
Numbers no longer active:
Numbers ending
675 JCP Emergency
682 DWP Emergency
075 MOPR
Seems the DWP have caught on and deactivated these numbers
The number for customer payment centre is no longer available
Hi. Thank you for this useful information. However, I just rang the Main Benefit Enquiry Line and got an automated reply stating that the number was no longer in use and that, although it was a freephone number, if I was using my mobile phone (I was), my service provider might levy a charge. Thought I’d let you know. Best regards. Rudi