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On hold for 97 minutes before being cut off. I need to notify ESA about a change in income. I did this by post last year and they say they didn't receive it so they gave me a £50 fine. I don't trust post after this but getting through by phone seems impossible. I think my MP is next. All for a tiny increase in my pension which reduces ESA. If only Tory MPs were chased for money they owe like this. We could have a properly funded welfare state 

Esa everyday for upto 5hours !!!!! I haven't been paid my money its 7days late !!!! I'm fuming 

I have been trying to get through to the ESA help line (0800 169 0310) every day for 10 days now.  I have been on hold for up to 90 mins with nobody responding at all, at times it has just cut off after about an hour. This is wholly unacceptable and almost feels like it's a ploy just to stop you claiming.

Last year in April my esa payments dropped because according to them I was no longer on pip, this was despite a new award of pip was given the previous year in September so I rang to complain and state I AM on pip and have the letter proving it ! They referred me to pip’s telephone who told me YES your new pip goes to the 27th September 2027 so ring them back as our records are up to date. So second call back to Esa told them that it’s their end so a manager checked the other computer server for pip and saw my pip award and said she would get them to rectify it and call me back the next day. Next day no call back so I rang the 3rd time only for them to see this hadn’t been done so yet again it was being forwarded as she also had access to the pip server and said my award would be updated . A few days later I rang up to check but still nothing had been done and told ring on Monday to which call number 5 I got a right idiot guy who said “ if you’re on pip you’ve got to prove you’re on pip?” And he wdnt get the manager or check the previous calls and notes on the system and so nothing had been done so I was told I’d have to SEND A COPY OF MY PIP AWARD to the Barnsley office to prove my award existed ! So obviously phoning them I couldn’t get anywhere and was extremely upset as it’s bizarre but true the two departments are on different servers so they are not being updated and all Esa did was pass the buck onto the pip for not updating them despite managers access to them and the problem was with their computer servers and the request to the relevant department to fix the problem. !! I had to write a full complaint I would take to my MP along with a copy of my pip award and wait another two weeks before ringing again to finally be told a letter will confirm the award update with back pay - no sorry for the distress or admittance of their failure to properly investigate how an award proven had not been followed up 8 months later showing a serious problem with their system and a determination of denial of the facts by 3 of their colleagues or how many people like me hadn’t had their pip awards updated, people who weren’t aware of the issue with hundreds of pounds less money they like me depend on !! I also had to go down to the council tax office to produce my pip award as they too were unaware as Esa are supposed to update them and put me on a lower rate as a result. Even the council guy was stunned at such a debacle all because Esa dept refused to see they had a serious problem with their system that needed immediate attention. The staff are being told to ignore us on the phones unless you demand to speak and get a manager and even then it was not expedited and not followed up and by not receiving the call back from them I knew I was getting nowhere. So whatever you do check your award has been updated with Esa as you can’t trust them !!

I have anxiety which gets really bad when trying to contact a company that has “a press 1 for this” or “please answer these questions first”. I start shaking then my breathing goes. Most times I hang up long before I talk to someone because I’m getting so upset that I start crying. I need to tell DWP’s PIP department that there are changes to my health but there is no other way to contact them and they’ve now introduced this new AI asking questions about which benefits you’re on. Something needs to change because this new system makes it impossible for someone like me to get in touch.

ESA 0800 169 0310. In Feb was on hold for 50 minutes to inquire about reassessment. Today following up as havent heard anything. After 1hr and 8 minutes spoke to a Bootle man, very helpful and gave all the info I needed.

Does anyone know the free phone number to ESA cannot find it  thank you

Very difficult to get through to PIP department 

Rang esa twice this week first time 50 minutes on hold, but had stuff to do, and again now, so far at 60 minutes. What worries me is my kids school could be trying to call and I wouldn't know. Reporting a change should not be this difficult! 

Tried upteen times to contact them been cut off everytime waited once for over 50 mins had to put phone down as I had to leave house this must be the worst lot I have ever had to contact.if you can't get in touch how are you supposed to tell them about any changes,bet they will punish you if you don't tell them about changes

I have been on the phone every day this week at different times.  However cut off 3 times, and been on hold for 2 hrs. It’s not fair that in this day, and age we are still getting it wrong.  So unfair to have people stressing about when, and how we will ever get to speak to a person. 

I have been left a voicemail asking me to contact 08001214433 to answer query re my PIP award. I have tried this number and many others in the Hope I would get to speak to someone. Not a Hope, been phoning for 2 days now, being disconnected or waiting for up to an hour.  I honestly have phoned about 20 + times and still haven’t been able to speak to anyone!  What am I meant to do?  Really annoyed and frustrated. 

Been trying to get through to ESA for 3 days, each call on hold for over an hour and nothing changes, not even told of you are in the call que just your call will be answered…. 

I have been trying to get through to the social fund line for 2 days now i was on hold for about 4 hours yesterday over 3 phone calls and kept getting cut off before I actually managed to speak to anyone. I am on hold right now and have been for 47 mins after calling them at 8am, so as soon as the phone lines opened. All I want to do is check I have given them the correct phone number because my son distracted me as I was filling in the application for a budgeting loan. When I’ve applied in the past I’ve received a text confirming they had received my application, but I didn’t this time so just want to check. My fridge has broken down and desperately need a new one. I think we might enter the second ice age before I actually get through to someone so it will be a moot point by then anyway 🙄😠

Been trying to contact PIP for over 2 weeks now and am being cut off every time. I had a recent review of health conditions and I was assured that my PIP review forms would be received in time before, however based on my past experience with PIP I know that this may not be the case and so I need to call them to confirm I will be getting my next payment. It’s extremely stressful not knowing if I will be getting it. 

wasted  an hr n half trying to get through to pip to ask for acopy of my  tel   phone assement over a wk ago , just puts u on hold plays music and same old same old message  all are customer services ppl are busy  plz hold and  we,ll answer your call soon as possible !!   so much so on hold its  flatted out my  batteries on the cordless phone     nitemare   !!! 

I’ve been trying to get through to pip for over a week and it just keeps ending the call yet they have sent a txt message saying that if they don’t receive the form in 2 days they will end the claim- HOW RIDICULOUS 

Tried to call the ESA phone number to see why my ESA didn't  go in last Friday  something  needs to change they need more operators.

I’ve been trying for 2 days solid to try contact DLA  All I need is a replacement form for the free car road tax but keep getting cut of on the recorded phone call it’s ridiculous. I’ve tried so many other numbers just to be told they don’t deal with it. I’ve even went to my local job centre for help but they can’t help either 

Can't get through on pip. After the first 5 attempts, the call was hung up at their end. The 6 attempt I have been on hold for an hour so far. I need to request information that cannot be accessed without talking to a human being.