Carers Allowance delays

[MurmuratorDominus]

Hi from a long-time lurker. I decided to register following on from a telephone conversation with the Carers Allowance Unit today. I had received CA for some years, but decided to see if I could do a bit more paid work and had CA suspended last May. Things didn't work out, so I quit the job and went back to caring full-time. I submitted a new claim on 1 March 2019.

As I've heard nothing from the CA Unit since then, I've tried phoning them several times in the past week and gave up when the hold time passed one hour. Today, after 53 minutes on hold, I got through to someone. I explained my situation and said that it was now more than three months since I put the application in.

The call handler said they had received my application, but hadn't processed it and that it would take a considerable time to process as their backlog of claims is three years! He said I had to bear in mind that they have staffing issues "around the Europe thing that shall remain nameless". I said I was running short of money and needed the application processed, but he said there was nothing to be done but wait for a decision.

So much for the stated six-week wait for an application to be processed. How are people supposed to get by without money when the backlog is three years?

[Chris From The Gulag]

Thanks for posting this , MD !

3 years ??????????????

( A mere 12 weeks back in November 2017 ... https://www.carersuk.org/forum/news-and ... ance-31668 )

That will go down very well on here.

I have tipped off the Reds ... one for the CUK Advice Team to take on board.

You didn't happen to record that conversation ?

[bowlingbun]

NOT ACCEPTABLE!!

Contact your MP - I know from "inside information" that when an MP gets involved, DWP jump!

[sunnydisposition]

Hi from a long-time lurker. I decided to register following on from a telephone conversation with the Carers Allowance Unit today. I had received CA for some years, but decided to see if I could do a bit more paid work and had CA suspended last May. Things didn't work out, so I quit the job and went back to caring full-time. I submitted a new claim on 1 March 2019.

As I've heard nothing from the CA Unit since then, I've tried phoning them several times in the past week and gave up when the hold time passed one hour. Today, after 53 minutes on hold, I got through to someone. I explained my situation and said that it was now more than three months since I put the application in.

The call handler said they had received my application, but hadn't processed it and that it would take a considerable time to process as their backlog of claims is three years! He said I had to bear in mind that they have staffing issues "around the Europe thing that shall remain nameless". I said I was running short of money and needed the application processed, but he said there was nothing to be done but wait for a decision.

So much for the stated six-week wait for an application to be processed. How are people supposed to get by without money when the backlog is three years?

UTTER RUBBISH!
Your should have asked to speak with a supervisor.

https://www.parliament.uk/get-involved/contact-your-mp/

Just contact your MP as already stated.
Remember phones call are always recorded. Next time your make contact makes notes of names and times etc.

[sunnydisposition]

Hi from a long-time lurker. I decided to register following on from a telephone conversation with the Carers Allowance Unit today. I had received CA for some years, but decided to see if I could do a bit more paid work and had CA suspended last May. Things didn't work out, so I quit the job and went back to caring full-time. I submitted a new claim on 1 March 2019.

As I've heard nothing from the CA Unit since then, I've tried phoning them several times in the past week and gave up when the hold time passed one hour. Today, after 53 minutes on hold, I got through to someone. I explained my situation and said that it was now more than three months since I put the application in.

The call handler said they had received my application, but hadn't processed it and that it would take a considerable time to process as their backlog of claims is three years! He said I had to bear in mind that they have staffing issues "around the Europe thing that shall remain nameless". I said I was running short of money and needed the application processed, but he said there was nothing to be done but wait for a decision.

So much for the stated six-week wait for an application to be processed. How are people supposed to get by without money when the backlog is three years?

UTTER RUBBISH!
Your should have asked to speak with a supervisor.

https://www.parliament.uk/get-involved/contact-your-mp/

Just contact your MP as already stated.
Remember phones call are always recorded. Next time your make contact makes notes of names and times etc.

You could still make a compliant.
https://www.gov.uk/government/organisat ... -procedure

[MurmuratorDominus]

In what way is it "utter rubbish"? I made the call and had the conversation as described. I just thought I'd share the information so that people were aware of what the DWP call handlers are saying. If "utter rubbish" is the immediate response, I think I should have kept quiet.

[bowlingbun]

No sorry, you've completely misunderstood my comment.

Under NO CIRCUMSTANCES should DWP have a three year delay. This is classed as an "income substitute" benefit. NO ONE should be expected to wait that length of time. Can you imagine the MP's tolerating a 3 year delay in getting their pay, or anyone else for that matter!

There used to be a delay of 8-10 weeks, which was far too long in itself.

You need to
Complain to the Carers Allowance Unit.
Complain to your MP.

It is unacceptable. We are always on the side of the carer on this forum.

[sunnydisposition]

In what way is it "utter rubbish"? I made the call and had the conversation as described. I just thought I'd share the information so that people were aware of what the DWP call handlers are saying. If "utter rubbish" is the immediate response, I think I should have kept quiet.

I know mean what you wrote was rubbish but the information you received was.

[MurmuratorDominus]

Twenty weeks now, and running up a credit card debt that's within a few pounds of the outstanding CA. My MP, a Tory, says that if I'm "genuinely facing financial hardship" then I should "get a job". Most of his response was a weird diatribe about the Scottish National Party, Brexit, and Tories believing in"hard working families" – none of which had any connection to my email asking for help. I've not been in touch with him before, have no connection with the SNP (and don't support them either) and don't understand how being a carer is not being part of a "hard working family". I got the impression he believes there should be no benefits system whatsoever!
I've tried a local action group, which does work similar to Citizens Advice and have been helpful in the past, but they're snowed under and I can't get an appointment for a couple of months.
Meanwhile, my other child is having some sort of mental health crisis and I can't get the NHS/education system to work together or intervene. No surprises there, as we've been there before with the other one due to his conditions.
The system is dire and made even worse when elected representatives don't see it as part of their job to help their constituents.

[bowlingbun]

With regard to education, are you in touch with IPSEA?