To wonder if anyone has ever actually got through to DLA helpline

[mstroutpout]

On hold for an hour and 45 minutes currently... This is my 8th attempt. Sometimes the line just goes dead, other times I'm on hold for an hour or more and have fo give up due to commitments.

I've tried pressing a different option and hit through to a person who orders forms for you but she couldn't help with queries, she could only send forms.

I just want to know if they got our form or not. It's been 8 weeks

@Sirzy your firm will be completed in time. However unless you were asking for a suppression there is no benefit to sending it more than 12 weeks early at the most. 8 weeks is usually fine for a renewal. They are prioritised in date order.

@MyDcAreMarvel

I agree they are either deliberately making the wait times long to dissuade people from bothering. Or they have chosen to under staff that department in particular. Or, I suppose, a bit of both. Neither of these things are true, Covid has caused delays with dm being unable to work for short periods either self isolating or if they actually have Covid or are caring for a child with Covid.

It's just not true. I've spoken to Now TV, a large appliance manufacturer, 111, and my local authority in the past few days and wait times were no longer than they ever have been.

@mstroutpout you may think it’s not true but I am telling you factually it is. The Dwp are not 111 your LA or indeed a large appliance manufacturer. You can be annoyed as you like with delays but rumours that are incorrect so nobody any favours. They are not deliberately understaffed and they do not process claims slower to put people off.

*does nobody

[quote MyDcAreMarvel]@mstroutpout you may think it’s not true but I am telling you factually it is. The Dwp are not 111 your LA or indeed a large appliance manufacturer. You can be annoyed as you like with delays but rumours that are incorrect so nobody any favours. They are not deliberately understaffed and they do not process claims slower to put people off.[/quote]
I'm not following.... so people who work at DLA are more affected by COVID than other call centres?

And from speaking to people, it's always been this way so COVID is irrelevant

@mstroutpout no they are not more affected by Covid obviously. But the dla team had to surplus staff to draw from.

They take hours to get through to and every person I’ve spoken to is rude and impatient. Not ideal when dealing with vulnerable people

I was on hold yesterday for 45 minutes, but when they did pick up the woman was hugely helpful. I was only calling to ask if the DLA form had been sent - I started the change from DLA to pip over the phone for dd16 in July.....no form even sent yet. The backlogs are huge!
The upside is we as customers are not being penalised for being slow either 😏