Christmas bonus - is anyone else get scared of ringing DWP?

starbuck

I've just rung the dwp because my husband's christmas bonus hasn't gone in this year. Does anyone else get anxiety over phoning for things like this? I'm terrified of ringing them for anything and my husband said not to bother. I've seen people on other sites say they haven't had their bonus and are too afraid to ring. They said his payment has been missed and I'll get a call in 3 working days to say when it's gone in. 

poppy123456

Hi,

My daughter had hers last week, i've yet to receive mine. I've never had any issues about ringing them. If the reason you're scared to ring is because it may prompt a re-assessment for a benefit, it doesn't prompt anything. If a person's claiming ESA and they ring for any reason at all and then they receive a work capability assessment form then it will be a complete coincidence.

The only reason i hate ringing is because of that stupid music.

starbuck

Omg I hate Vivaldis Four Seasons 

Joanne_Alumni

Hi,
You've started something now @poppy123456!
I hate that music! Years and years of ringing the DWP for clients.
You are absolutely right of course. It does not prompt a reassessment.

Dotty123

I Neva got my Xmas bonus last week said I got paid before was due be on next one 

poppy123456

@Joanne_Scope the last time i rang was when i moved house for change of address. I waited for 45 minutes for PIP for my daughter (im her appointee) then i said i needed to change it for myself and was told they couldn't do mine at the same time and that i would need to ring again to change my details. you can imagine my reaction when i knew i had to wait in the queue again listening to that damn music. All i achieved from it was a huge headache!

Joanne_Alumni

Hi @poppy123456,
That is so typical! And they wonder why people get frustrated. They should let us run the DWP. 

OverlyAnxious

I haven't got my xmas bonus yet either...  My ESA should be paid on the 24th so I'm guessing it'll come in with that...don't think there'll be much left in the shops by then though!   

I can't use phones so don't often ring them, and I'll just go without this if it has been missed this year.  But those brown envelopes are always a worry lol!  I do wish they wouldn't send the unnecessary ones like the xmas bonus or winter heating ones...as well as making us nervous it must cost them so much and use so much paper and fuel (post lorries/vans/electric in sorting offices etc) when most of us use online banking now so will see the payment anyway.  If they must send something, I'd be more happy with an email instead.

Silver925

Hi my Christmas bonus went in added to my usual payment first week in December. I don't think anyone likes phoning them.

starbuck

Two days later they got back to me. They'd forgotten to pay it and it has now gone in the bank. 

Waylay

I sang in a 100-person concert-choir many years ago, and 1 year we did that piece of music. The DWP have ruined it for me now...

thespiceman

Hello @starbuck   Pleased to meet you.

Understand a lot of this, learnt this support worker mental health charity.

Make a script of what you wish to say write it down.

Word for word including NI numbers you details, even top of the page good morning or any other greeting.

True get word stuck sweats and those who know me start panicking so use this.

Asked me my name said hang on knew it this morning so stuck sweating.

Had it written down, have a cold glass of water my big pad.

Deep breaths and then the call.

Explain all the time the issues you have, does help.

I forget to add, take your time.  Always been polite. After all must remember what DWP stands for

Disabled Will not Pay  just a thought.

Yes the music why not change it.

Theme tune Mission Impossible because that is what it is like for me lol...

Please take care.

@thespiceman

OverlyAnxious

Just checked my bank, never did get my xmas bonus this year!  Do many people get forgotten out of interest?  I just don't understand how an automated process that presumably pays everyone that's eligible can miss some people out lol?

As said above, I won't query it this year.  I've been really unwell over the last few days (my own fault, shouldn't have tried to change the routine and food choices over xmas) so can't even attempt to phone them in my current state.  I don't need the £10 this time fortunately.

poppy123456

Yes people do get "forgotten about" Sometimes it's paid on top of another benefit and sometimes it's paid separately.

starbuck

Quite a few people on facebook have said they haven't been paid either so it looks like a fair chunk of people don't get their bonus each year but are too afraid to ask for it. It's really sad that people are missing out because they are too scared of the system to query what is due to them.

chiarieds

Hi @starbuck & @OverlyAnxious - I only received half of my Winter Fuel Payment this year; rang the DWP, & much to my surprise got through to a human being quickly. Apparently their system came up with somebody else was living at my address(!), & having gone through all the usual checks she could think of, said their computers sometimes came up with this randomly!

I now have to wait until I will get paid the other half until between mid-January & the end of March apparently.

I had no problems ringing them; didn't get to hear the muzak, thankfully, but querying to get an additional £100 was worthwhile.

martymart

Good morning, I have not received my bonus either. I am contribution esa 

poppy123456

martymart said:

Good morning, I have not received my bonus either. I am contribution esa 

There are others that also haven't received it, myself included. It can be paid anytime throughout December. Sometimes it's also added to your existing benefits so you may not notice it with being just £10 it's easy to miss.

janer1967

Not had mine yet either my pip is due next week so might be added on that 

I have had my cold weather payment today 

Puja

Mine was added onto my ESA last week 

L_Volunteer

Hopefully, everyone will be able to receive it soon if they haven't already. Really positive to hear yours was added onto your ESA last week @Puja