Can't Sign For U C...

[Spicerack]

Was just talking to a mate. He packed his job in a week ago (diabetes) and reckons he can't sign on for benefits. Keeps getting 'timed out' on the computer. No-one's answering the phones and the local office is shut. Said something about being in a queue with 110,000 but I'm not sure was that the phone or computer. I know some of you work there, any bright ideas I could pass on to him?

[fiction-factory]

Isn't there a way to register online?
It was mentioned last night that there are queues like this and all you can do is hang on- estimated time is 4 hours but I'd expect longer.
Hopefully there will be some backdating if it's accepted that it can take days to get through. It'd be good if you could register online or by post - or at least let them know that you are trying to register

[fiction-factory]

Sadly for every few 10 genuine callers I suspect there's some chancing their arm (easy potential for fraud I'm sure) and some just ringing to chase up an existing request or making a general enquiry, and some making two simultaneous calls so the lines get clogged

[Spicerack]

Yes, ff, he tried to register on-line but gets timed out.

[fiction-factory]

Thanks. Had the same with Ocado yesterday but that was less pressing I know.

[Spicerack]

I'll ring him next week, see how he made out. Don't think he'll be desperate like some people must be.

[fiction-factory]

Might be worth a read

https://www.express.co.uk/finance/personalfinance/1260958/martin-lewis-universal-credit-coronavirus-changes-money-show

[Spicerack]

Cheers, ff, passed it on.

[MartinMillar]

Tell him to apply online early in the morning or late at night. Dwp are totally under pressure.

[THECORBYLOON]

I am no longer involved with DWP but I do know there have been hundreds of thousands of new claims for UC made this week which is much much more than normal and about 10,000 folk have been moved to deal with them.

I would agree with MM and suggest trying in the middle of the night when there are likely to be fewer folk trying to claim.

I will contact a pal in my local Jobcentre to see if she has any different advice.

[Spicerack]

Right. Cheers all.

[jackthehat]

Mrs JtH works for UC and her particular office is running at about 50% staff at the minute.
In addition, her case-load has increased by 400 clients. A great many of her clients want payments in advance, standard advance-loans or a chunk of the bumper-crop of money they think the CotE has promised them. Dealing with 'inappropriate' calls takes a huge chunk of her time away from being able to actually help those who need it.
All she can ever advise is to keep on trying the telephone lines....

[Spicerack]

Yes. Can just imagine all the chancers trying to take advantage. As ff says, messing things up for the genuine people.

[THECORBYLOON]

My pal at the JC couldn't think of how to shorten the queue but I would still suggest trying in the middle of the night.

She did say however,
"Tell them not to do ID online...its a faff.... follow the link underneath that says I cant do this online. Then click book an appt at the jobcentre. So long as the claim is registered we will see it and get in touch."

Hope that helps, if only a wee bit.

[wolf63]

Corby

You have left DWP? Did you jump or were you pushed?

Since I left on 31 October 2003 it has changed so much.

[Spicerack]

Ah, he did say something about the Identity Section. I'll definitely pass that on. Ta.

[THECORBYLOON]

WOLF, it was part of a voluntary redundancy package offered in 2018 to take effect in the summer of 2019. It was expected that as numbers would be spread over various offices, our share would be only a few so not many bothered.

We then found out that if we applied and were turnt down, we would get the same terms in any future offer so loads more applied to retain their rights under the current scheme.

Future plans for various offices changed and in the end, everyone in our office who had applied was accepted.

[pixie374]

Spice, I had to do this on Tuesday, on advice from our accountant. I tried all day and couldn't get through, and couldn't apply online, as it won't let you fill in all the boxes on a phone.
I rang Citizens Advice, and she got through to a human within seconds, twice. She had to ring me back, get my consent (as a conference call) and ring them back. She also filled in the boxes that my phone wouldn't allow me to.
So anyone, struggling with any of this, ring your local Citizens Advice. Takes out all the stress!

[THECORBYLOON]

I am not doubting what you did but I have just looked at the CAB website and it is not suggesting folk call CABx to make claims. I doubt they would be able to cope with hundreds of thousands of calls between them each week.

There is a CAB Helpline from Monday to Friday so it might be an idea to 'phone them on Monday to confirm what assistance they can give to apply for UC.

"You can contact an adviser through our free national Help to Claim phone service:

England: 0800 144 8 444
England textphone: 18001 0800 144 8 444

Wales: 08000 241 220
Wales textphone: 18001 08000 241 220

Scotland: 0800 023 2581"

Scotland appears not to have a textphone number.

[pixie374]

TCL, it suggests them on the site, if you aren't able to claim online. I'm hoping that only the 5 people reading this thread get in touch if necessary. But i was nearly in tears the first day.

[pixie374]

Sorry, tcl, it suggests them on the universal credit site, I didn't mean their own.