Does anyone work for the DVLA? Driving license for the over 70s

[BookWitch]

Or can anyone help me? Getting so frustrated and desperate.

My Dm is 76 at the end of July. Still driving, is in good health etc. Driving licence expires on her birthday, end of July.
She didn't receive the form through the post as the DVLA says she should, but as she knew it was coming up, she asked me to do it online for her. I went through the whole process (took ages) then got to the end page and said we couldn't do it online, and she had to do it by post. So we got the form from the post office and send it to the DVLA at the beginning of June, but we have heard nothing. I am kicking myself for not scanning it.
She is now only 2 weeks from it expiring, and very worried about breaking the law by driving with an expired licence.
We have heard rumours that driving licences have been extended like MoTs, but the guidance on the DVLA website seems to not apply to the over 70s (but it's not very clear)
The Track your application system requires a ref (which you only get if you apply online), and the phone number is not taking calls.

I realise things aren't operating normally at the moment, but you can't phone a human, or email them. The live chat assistance is a Bot which doesn't understand the problem. I've even called the police Non-emergency number, and they have said to contact the DVLA, and her insurers say the same thing. The only definite thing we can find on the GOV website is that she can continue to drive as long as we have proof the application is being processed, but we don't have that. What on earth do we do?
Do we just wait? Send another application?

My dp's driving licence has expired and my investigations on how to replace it came to the same conclusions you have:

Driving licences have been extended by seven (!) months (not sure how you prove you have a valid licence though, when you don't...).

Over 70s are not extended this privilege, you have to send off for a new one.

Once you have applied you may drive with impunity (aren't you assumed to have sent off your licence?)

Have you paid for a new licence? I believe you can do it all at the post office (ie they take the photo, send it off etc) then they would give you a receipt.

Thanks @Janek
No there was no charge - no changing of photo or any details.

I am just so frustrated we cannot ask anyone. The website just sends you round and round in circles

Yes, it does! And I only found the info about the extra seven months having stumbled across it elsewhere first. It's a real pain because essentially you're breaking the law without it. Even though dp traded in one that expired when he was seventy for this one!

Try again to do it online. I had to do my Mum's. It took about 4 attempts but it eventually worked. She got her licence in about 7 days.

They have paperwork going back to March that hasn't been looked at. They are not extending the over 70's by the 7 months. She must not drive without a new licence.

I called last week about my daughter's licence and got through straight away.

@ExclamationPerfume
when you phoned them, what number did you use?
When I call the general line, there was just the message that they are not taking calls and redirection to the website.

I know she must not drive without a licence. We are just getting so frustrated trying to get her one. It's not like we left it til the minute. We have been trying for two months now and getting nowhere.

0300 790 6801 was the number. I called about 4pm and was shocked someone answered straight away.

I would definitely try and do it online again. When I tried to do it for my Mum it said to apply by post. I tried again after it crashed twice and it worked fine.

If you wait for the paper application you could be waiting months.

Do the form from the post office. I applied because the website wasn't working in January and it took less than the stated 3 weeks to come back. In know there is now COVID but their website is normally ridiculous, it's not just down because of that! :) Good luck!