14 June 2010

Back in January 2010, the DWP announced that , six of the biggest mobile phone network companies would no longer charge their customers for calls to around 70 of the DWP’s 0800 numbers.  The companies involved were O2, Orange, Tesco Mobile, T-Mobile, Virgin Mobile and Vodafone.

A Benefits and Work member has used the Freedom of Information Act to obtain a list of all the freephone numbers covered under the scheme, which are listed below.

One thing that is apparent is that, with few exceptions, it is only initial claims and emergencies that are covered.  For problems that arise in the course of a claim, people who only have access to a mobile phone – around 12% of all households -will continue to have to pay exorbitant rates to talk to the DWP.

What sort of problems have you encountered trying to get through to the DWP on the phone – share your experiences by posting a response below.

0800882200    Main Benefit Enquiry Line - for new claims and changes to disability benefits
08009174163  ESA & Lone Parent New Claims Appointments - geographic
08009174161  Lone Parent New Claims - geographical
08009178077  New Deal Lone Parent New Claims - geographical
08007319091  Crisis Loans - geographical
08009174164  New Claims Appointment Line - geographical
08000556688  First Contact New Claims - claims to working age benefits
08000121888  First Contact New Claims (Welsh) - claims to working age benefits
08000328360  Crisis Loans - geographical
08005878065  Crisis Loans - geographical
08006783717  Crisis Loans - geographical
08000328345  Crisis Loans - geographical
08000327952  Crisis Loans - geographical
08000328356  Crisis Loans - geographical
08000328350  Crisis Loans - geographical
08000328347  Crisis Loans - geographical
08000328349  Crisis Loans - geographical
08000328352  Crisis Loans - geographical
08003891241  Crisis Loans - geographical
08000328341  Crisis Loans - geographical
08003283036  Crisis Loans - geographical
08005875986  Crisis Loans - geographical
08000304355  Crisis Loans - geographical
08000328366  Crisis Loans - geographical
08000328369  Crisis Loans - geographical
08000328344  Crisis Loans - geographical
08001699891  Crisis Loans - geographical
08001695198  Crisis Loans - geographical
08000327950  Crisis Loans - geographical
08005876716  Crisis Loans - geographical
08003890271  Crisis Loans - geographical
08000856318  Northern Ireland - claims to Employment and Support Allowance
0800220674    Northern Ireland Benefit Enquiry Line - claims to Industrial Injuries Disability Benefit
08000224250  Northern Ireland Customer First Line - for new claims to working age benefits
0800991234    Pension Credit Application - new claims to Pension Credit
08000857075  Pensions – Method of payment Reforms for customers changing to   payments  into a bank
08007314811  Pension Credit - for customer to respond to departmental instigation of Pension Credit claims
08007317898  State Pension New Claims
08007317936  State Pension New Claims - Welsh
08000856528  Customer Payment Centre - for customers changing to payments into a bank
08000857144  Customer Payment Centre Welsh - for customers changing to payments into a bank
08000857102  Customer Payment Centre - for customers changing to payments into a bank
08009171744  Lone Parent New Claims - geographic
08000326436  Disability Act Line - hard of hearing and speech impaired (text phone)
08000857380  Winter Fuel Payments
08007839632  New Claims - geographical
08007839533  New Claims - geographical
08007839022  New Claims - geographical
08007839837  New Claims - Automated Welsh
0800378249    New Claims - geographical
08005876712  Pension Credit New Claims (text phone)
08006783682  New Claims - geographical