The spirit of Scrooge is haunting the DWP

Reginald Owen as Iain Duncan Smith in 'A Christmas Crisis-loan'.

Reginald Owen as Iain Duncan Smith in ‘A Christmas Crisis-loan’.

Here’s a tale of festive woe from the BBC News website:

More than 32,000 people have not received benefit payments in time for Christmas due to a Department for Work and Pensions “administrative error”.

The cash was due to go into bank accounts on Christmas Eve but will not now be paid until Friday, 27 December.

Most of those affected are first time claimants or people expecting one-off payments such as crisis loans.

The DWP urged them to call the department or a Jobcentre by 5pm to arrange payment within three hours.

A spokesman said the problem had only affected a “limited number” of claimants, totalling 32,200.

“The vast majority of regular benefit payments have been made on time this Christmas,” the spokesman added.

“However due to an administrative issue, a number of one-off or more irregular payments will now be paid on the 27th December, rather than the 24th.

“We have procedures in place to ensure that anyone who has been affected by this and who contacts us today (24th December) will get their benefits paid, usually within three hours.”

Some of those affected include new claimants waiting for their first payment, those owed arrears, people who have applied for Social Fund crisis loans and “in a very few cases” pension-related arrears.

The categories of benefits affected include Jobseekers Allowance, Employment Support Allowance, Social Fund and pensions.

We could all put a name to that “administrative error”: Iain Duncan Scrooge – I mean, Smith.

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9 Comments

  1. Atos Victims (@AtosVictims1) December 24, 2013 at 3:19 pm - Reply

    Thousands not getting their Benefits this XMAS? http://dwpexamination.org/forum/general-discussion/xmas-esa-payment-f-up/#p118575 … RT PLS VIP

  2. stevencharlesrae December 24, 2013 at 3:30 pm - Reply

    Reblogged this on stevencharlesrae's Blog.

  3. beastrabban December 24, 2013 at 4:27 pm - Reply

    Reblogged this on Beastrabban’s Weblog.

  4. stilloaks December 24, 2013 at 5:46 pm - Reply

    Reblogged this on Still Oaks and commented:
    This has IDS ( Irritable Death Syndrome ) stamped all over it, people are apparently disagreeing with his, Deathfare Reforms. And this has upset him greatly. By failing to make payments to the most vulnerable at Christmas, he is reminding the sick and disabled, just how much they need him.

  5. […] Here's a tale of festive woe from the BBC News website: More than 32,000 people have not received benefit payments in time for Christmas due to a Department for Work and Pensions "administrative er…  […]

  6. Lolly December 24, 2013 at 6:30 pm - Reply

    Scrooge was redeemable and was redeemed; Iain Duncan Smith is not and won’t be.

  7. Leoni Al-ajeel December 24, 2013 at 8:07 pm - Reply

    I believe this was done on purpose so they cant spend anything and will have their rent etc. What evil sociopath’s they are. Some councils sent out cards saying dont overindulge this Christmas. Pay your rent. disgusting. Hang your heads in shame.

  8. Thomas December 24, 2013 at 8:12 pm - Reply

    Ian Duncan Smith’s chains that he is forging inch by inch and yard by yard will be a lot heavier then Marley’s ever were.

  9. Kerry Davies. December 25, 2013 at 10:35 am - Reply

    Her indoors’ payment of her “normal” benefit was halved on Monday for no reason and trying to contact DWP telephone lines has been impossible since then.

    The idea that 32,000 can contact them and get paid within 3 hours is farcical. They cannot even manage to pay reliably and in a timely manner for any claimant.

    DWP now owe her £500 plus, while ATOS were instructed to pay £200 compensation and promised it by the end of September. Still waiting.

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